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Spring is the perfect time of year to give your lawn a boost with some spring lawn fertlizer.

Spring lawn fertilizer is crucial for a lush lawn year-round

The start of spring brings a sense of renewal. Light jackets replace heavy coats; people enjoy outdoor activities; and flowers begin to bloom. Just as homeowners embark on spring cleaning within their home, it’s just as important to nurture their lawn. Spring lawn fertilizer is a vital part of spring cleaning your lawn, but you must pay careful attention to the type of fertilizer you use and how much you apply.

The primary reason spring lawn care is important is to prepare the lawn for the dehydrating months of summer. Many grass types need to establish a strong and sturdy root system in the spring to endure the harsh conditions of summer; therefore, a lawn needs tender loving care as the spring approaches. Spring lawn fertilizer is highly beneficial if the right amount is applied to the lawn.

One mistake many homeowners make is thinking that lawn care and maintenance begins in the spring. Achieving a healthy lawn requires ongoing maintenance. Think of it like this: A person who exercises frequently and regularly is likely to be healthier than someone who only works out vigorously during particular periods of the year. The same is true for lawn care. While spring lawn fertilizer and maintenance is an important step in obtaining a beautiful lawn, a lawn must be nurtured throughout the year.

Too Much Spring Lawn Fertilizer Is Not a Good Thing

Oftentimes, people get ‘fertilizer happy’ when it comes to feeding their lawn. While they have good intentions-to obtain an incredibly green lawn-too much fertilizer isn’t always a good thing, especially in the spring. An excessive amount of spring lawn fertilizer can cause weed growth and disease.

In addition to limiting the amount of spring lawn fertilizer you apply to your lawn, it’s also important that you do not apply the fertilizer at the very start of spring. Many homeowners are eager to get outside and begin yard work immediately, but early spring fertilization can actually defeat the purpose of feeding your lawn.

Although your lawn will develop into a beautiful green color after application, fertilizing it too early in the spring encourages top growth and thus, damages the root system. If the roots of a lawn are fragile and weak, they’re less likely to withstand the dry and hot conditions of summer. What’s more, the spring lawn fertilizer you choose should include less nitrogen and more phosphorous to promote strong and healthy roots.

If you have more than a postage stamp yard, a riding mower is a must.  You can either stick with a traditional gasoline powered riding mower, or a new, electric riding lawn mower.  To get the most life out of your mower, you need to select the type of mower that is right for your circumstances and maintain it properly.

Selecting a Riding Mower: Gas or Electric?

Gas powered lawn mowers are much easier to find and less expensive than electric lawn mowers.  There are a few electric riding mowers, in particular the Electric Ox, made in Canada.  Its cost puts it out of reach for most homeowners, though.  The electric riding lawn mowers put out fewer emissions, but at a price of about $10,000 per mower, it would take years to recoup the cost savings in fuel.  Electric riding mowers are much better for the environment in terms of emissions, though the electrical power for the battery has to come from somewhere.  That means that the environmental impacts of an electric riding lawn mower ultimately lie in the power source of the local area where a homeowner resides.

Maintaining the Lawn Mower

Regardless of the type of riding lawn mower you have, in order for it to work well you need to maintain it.  Of utmost importance is keeping the blades sharpened.  Sharp blades provide a clean cut, which helps keep disease from entering the plant.  Additionally, a sharp mower blade produces a nicer looking lawn.  Dull blades will rip the grass blade, making a raggedy edge that will unevenly die at the edges.  If you look across a lawn that has been cut several days prior, and it has a whitish look, it is because the blades were not properly sharpened.

Benefits of Riding Lawn Mowers

It is much quicker to mow with a riding mower than with a push mower—self-propelled or not.  If your health is not the best, a riding mower can allow you to maintain your own yard without needing the care of an outside professional.  Another benefit of riding lawn mowers is that many of them can also work with attachments such as snow plows and small trailers.  They are versatile tools, more than just mowers.  New zero turn mowers allow for even mowing of the yard with less trimming, as well.

Always purchase your riding lawn mower from a reputable dealer who can help with service if the need arises, and maintain the mower to factory specifications.

Busy lifestyles today leave little time for lawn care.  Keep your lawn healthy by enlisting the help of a professional.  TruGreen has been in the lawn care business since 1973.  They have expanded their operations from basic lawn care to include total landscape care.  Commonly misspelled as TrueGreen, the actual company name is TruGreen.  It began in Michigan, and is now part of the Servicemaster corporation-a group of businesses that help homeowners and businesses maintain healthy, clean and “green” home and work environments.  Here are some of the benefits of using TruGreen (not TrueGreen) to help maintain your lawn at peak condition.

Benefits of Using TruGreen

• Professionally trained technicians treating your lawn and garden. Much pesticide pollution is actually caused by un-trained individuals purchasing and using chemicals available at home and garden centers.  TruGreen technicians have had extensive training and supervision to mix and apply treatments safely.
• More time to spend enjoying the lawn, rather than working on the lawn. Professional lawn equipment is large enough and powerful enough to complete the job in a fraction of the time it takes a homeowner with a standard-sized push mower and trimmer.  Instead of spending three or four hours of hard-earned free time taking care of the lawn, let TruGreen put their powerful machines to work.  They are in and out in a flash, leaving homeowners with more time to enjoy their weekends and evenings.
• Free analysis for your specific lawn’s needs. Adding fertilizer where it isn’t needed is expensive.  Mowing at the incorrect height can cause damage to lawn grass.  Spraying broadcast insecticides pre-emotively do little good for the health of the lawn.  TruGreen provides a free analysis for anyone requesting one.  This analysis will identify the types of grass in your lawn, any insect, pest or disease problems, and a free tutorial about how to properly maintain your lawn for best health.
• Catch problems before they are out of control. Prevention will keep your lawn healthy to a point.  Prevention in terms of mowing technique, watering frequency, and proper fertilization.  Sometimes,  good maintenance is not enough to stop problems.  Early detection can keep lawn problems from ballooning out of control to the point where they are difficult to control.  Because TruGreen visits each homeowner’s yard on a regular basis, they can detect insect, fungal and disease problems while they are still manageable.  They can also recommend and complete a course of action to alleviate the problem.
• Receive priority access to yearly maintenance such as aerating, de-thatching, feeding and other tasks. These are tasks that you can accomplish yourself, but you may not have access to the best equipment.  For example, you can rent punch aerators at most equipment rental shops.  Those aerators can cause more damage than good by punching the soil further down into the lawn, rather than removing it to increase air circulation.  TruGreen only uses professional core aerators, which remove plugs of soil and allow the lawn to breathe.

Benefits of Maintaining a Healthy Lawn with TruGreen

Lawn health is not just a cosmetic issue.  Maintaining the lawn also has health benefits for people!  Controlling common weeds that cause allergic reactions ensures a safe place for family activities.

Keeping a weed-free, lush lawn increases the value of your home, a major benefit during stressful economic times and lower home prices.  Curb appeal is one aspect of readying a home for sale that some homeowners forget about.  A beautiful lawn can help your home sell faster, and for a better price.

A healthy lawn will also need less water, and provides valuable green space in cities, to help slow the flow of water into storm water treatment systems.  Rain that falls on a lawn will percolate back into the drinking water aquifer, replenishing it.

For help maintaining your lawn, consider TruGreen.

Given the various duties that a lawn care service provider can do, beyond just lawn maintenance, it is important to interview and select the lawn care professional that will be the best fit for you.  Instead of just opening the phone book and signing a contract with the first company listed, it pays to do your homework and interview a few companies.  Not every lawn care service provider offers the same services, certifications and professionalism.

My Mom recently went through this while hiring someone to take care of their yard.  (They live in Indiana.  I literally can’t do it for them!)   I’m happy to report that, because they did their homework, my parents have been quite pleased with the work from their new landscaper.  Here are some of the things I mentioned that she should look out for, and questions she should ask.

Questions for Lawn Care Service Providers

• Do you have commercial pesticide license?
  • Now, it might seem like jumping the gun to charge right out of the gate with this question, but the answer will tell you much more than whether they are legally allowed to treat your lawn.  It will also tell you if the provider has had some formal training with lawn and garden care beyond mowing his or her parents’ back yard.
  • The license signifies that the provider has been instructed about how to safely apply fertilizers, weed and insect controls-whether organic or synthetic.
  • Also, if they don’t have a commercial pesticide license, they cannot legally apply any chemicals to your lawn.  Period.
• Do you have insurance-business, liability and worker’s comp?
  • This is another biggie.  If the lawn care provider does not have insurance, if they damage something on your property, you may or may not  be able to get the damages repaired.
  • Additionally, if the business owner or  injure themselves on your property, you want to make sure that they have the proper insurance so that you cannot be held liable.
• May I see your portfolio?
  • Now, this one is more important for landscapers that will be doing more work than just lawn care, but it never hurts to see pictures, regardless.
  • Look for clean edging, no mower marks, healthy plants, etc.
• Do you give notice before spraying chemicals?
  • This is especially important if you have children or pets, as you will want to make sure that they are out of harm’s way, and stay off the grass for the specified time.
  • Additionally, you don’t want them to come do a massive weed treatment one week before your big garden party or cookout.  Burned weeds everywhere? Not pretty!
• What is included in each weekly visit?  What treatments are included in my yearly service plan?
  • That might seem like a no-brainer, but it is always good to get in writing what you are paying for.
  • A list of included services will also help you plan any events you have at home.  (You don’t want your lawn care provider to aerate three days before a party, either.)
• Can the service provider do any seasonal garden maintenance, or just lawn maintenance?
  • A little bit of extra landscaping goes a long way toward increasing your home value.  It also makes a home more inviting.  However, many people don’t add extra landscaping because they don’t want to take care of it.  Hiring a lawn care service provider that can help with landscaping maintenance makes caring for your garden much easier.

A thorough interview including the above questions will help you find a lawn care service provider you will be happy to use.  Less time working on the lawn means more time leftover for fun!

You may have seen “aerating shoes” for sale in the hardware and wondered if they actually work.  The short answer is “not really.”  Do you need to aerate your lawn?  The short answer is “yes!”  There is a right way to aerate and a right time to do it for best results.  Aerating is part of maintaining a healthy lawn.  Here’s how to do it right.

What is Lawn Aerating?

Aerating is the process of removing small plugs of soil from the turf.  Core aerators are the best types of mechanical aerators because they remove the soil, rather than pushing soil back in to the ground.  (That is what those little lawn-aerating shoes do.)  Lawn aeration is one of the keys to healthy lawn maintenance.

How does Aerating help your Lawn?

Plants need oxygen as much as they need carbon dioxide, but they need oxygen in their root areas.  As people walk, play football or practice swinging the golf club on their lawn, they compact the soil, squeezing it together and removing spaces that oxygen normally fills.  Plants use oxygen when they metabolize (break down) the sugar they store from photosynthesis.  Without oxygen for this process, plants will literally starve.  In addition to improving oxygen availability for plants, it also improves life for soil organisms.  Lawn aeration allows water to filter more consistently through soil, and helps reduce problems with thatch.

When to Aerate Your Lawn

Depending upon how much foot traffic the lawn in question gets, you may need to aerate more than once a year.  You always want to aerate when the lawn can grow and heal itself from the process.  Aerating a lawn disrupts plant roots and is stressful to the plants in the beginning.  It is best to aerate in the spring and fall—when the plants are actively growing, and it is not too hot.  Warm season grasses grow most during the hot summer, so aerating during the summer works well for them.  Disrupting the plant roots will interfere with their ability to take up water and recover from the aerating process.  Aerating mid-summer requires more careful observation of moisture levels.

How to Aerate your Lawn

It is not a bad idea to hire a professional with a punch-core aerator to aerate the lawn for you.  Most equipment rental places do not have core-aerators that actually remove the core.  Before the professional arrives, however, you need to do some prep-work.  Mow the lawn to a slightly shorter height and give the lawn at least one inch of water two days prior to aerating.  This will loosen the soil and help the lawn recover.   After aerating, continue giving the lawn 1 inch of water twice a week.

Aerating  your lawn at the right time with the proper equipment can ensure that you have a beautiful yard, every season of the year.

Liquid lawn fertilizer can dramatically improve the health and appearance of a lawn.

Liquid lawn fertilizers are fast-acting and offer even coverage.

If you pay a visit to your local home improvement store with the goal of finding an effective lawn fertilizer, chances are you’ll feel overwhelmed. Standing amidst the aisle, it may seem as if you’re in fertilizer paradise (or purgatory, depending on how you view lawn care). With so many kinds of fertilizers from which to choose, it’s difficult to make a decision. Liquid lawn fertilizer is a specific type of fertilizer that responds quickly post application. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of liquid lawn fertilizers, so the next time you find yourself in the fertilizer aisle, you’ll be equipped to make a speedy decision.

Liquid Lawn Fertilizer: The Pros

• Because liquid lawn fertilizer comes in the form of a spray, your lawn will receive even coverage, thus decreasing the chance of burning it.
• Again, due to the spray form, it’s the application process is simple.
• Once you spray liquid lawn fertilizer to the roots and leaves, the effect is immediate; your lawn will receive nutrients and ‘perk up’ in no time.
• With liquid lawn fertilizers, the combination of fertilizer and herbicide helps to ward off weeds, too.
• No more breaking your back hauling those hefty bags of granular fertilizer. With liquid lawn fertilizer, the only thing you carry around is the spray bottle (attached to the garden hose).

Liquid Lawn Fertilizer: The Cons

• If you do not have a hose to attach to the container of liquid lawn fertilizer, then it’s essentially a waste of time to buy this form of fertilizer.
• Liquid lawn fertilizers are more costly than other fertilizer forms.
• Because a liquid lawn fertilizer reacts instantly, you must apply it to your lawn frequently. If your lawn is larger, it could mean you’re paying a lot more than you would with other fertilizer forms, in addition to spending more time applying it on a regular basis.

Organic Liquid Lawn Fertilizers

Now that you’ve narrowed your fertilizer search to liquid lawn fertilizer, you have another critical choice to make: organic versus synthetic. Organic liquid lawn fertilizer is derived from animal and plant sources, and it is highly beneficial to the soil (not to mention the environment). There are few disadvantages when it comes to organic liquid lawn fertilizer. Due the fact that the ingredients come from nature, the results are not a fast as synthetic liquid lawn fertilizer, but this is actually an advantage in the long run. Additionally, organic liquid lawn fertilizer has a distinct odor, but it fades away quickly.

When you consider the positive effects that organic liquid lawn fertilizer has on the lawn and the environment, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. But the decision is yours to make-after all, it’s your lawn.

Perhaps now you can march to the nearest home improvement store with a little more knowledge and determination than before. Good luck!

Keep your garden free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and garden the organic way.

Get the most out of nature and enjoy a garden that is free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

These days, many things come organically. We often hear of organic produce, organic meats and organic health and beauty products. Perhaps the best way to go organic, however, is in your garden. Pesticides, fungicides and herbicides can severely damage your garden and your lawn, but organic gardening works with the garden’s natural system to produce a healthier garden.

If you’re thinking about turning your garden into an organic one, read the tips below and find out if organic gardening is right for you. Chances are, it is!

1. Plan Ahead
   In general, planning is good for any new project you take on, including an organic garden. Think about the elements of a garden that are important to you. Organic gardening incorporates all of nature-it is an eco-system consisting of soil, water supply, wildlife and insects. Think about your organic garden and how it looks and works, and then jot down your wants and needs. This is an effective way to plan, and you can reference your notes and tweak when necessary.
2. All About Soil
   In essence, organic gardening starts with the soil. Soil is the heart of an organic garden. When soil is nourished with organic substances, it becomes fertile and moist. This enriched soil produces a garden that is abundant with healthy plants, flowers and organisms.
3. Compost ­- An Inexpensive & Beneficial Fertilizer
   Kitchen scraps. Grass trimmings. Fallen leaves. Deceased plants and animals. Coffee grounds. Wood chips. What do all of these things have in common? They make great compost-a mineral-rich, dark brown material consisting of decomposed organic matter that is ideal for fertilizing soil and controlling soil erosion. Compost is an important component in organic gardening, as the waste is all natural and full of nutrients. You should mix compost with the soil in your organic garden every week or two.
4. Additional Organic Fertilizers
   Compost, while highly beneficial, is not the only organic fertilizer you can use in an organic garden. For natural fertilizer that is chock full of nutrients, try the following:
   • Bone meal – This is self-explanatory, as it consists of crushed bones. Provides a good supply of phosphorous.
   • Manure - If properly mixed in with the soil, manure from a cow, chicken, horse or sheep is a great way to fertilize an organic garden. (To cut down on the stinch, you can compost the manure first.) A good supply of nitrogen.
   • Epsom salt – A natural approach to increase the amount of sulfur and magnesium in the soil.
   • Compost tea ­- Place compost in water and let decompose. Spray on soil and plants. This nutrient-rich fertilizer is a good supply of microorganisms and humus
5. Out with Herbicides & Pesticides!
   A no-brainer, herbicides and pesticides scream murder on an organic garden (or any garden, for that matter). While pesticides may serve a purpose of some kind, they often kill the good insects that help repel problematic pests. There are safe, natural products on the market, as well as some recipes you can make yourself, that will help your garden flourish the organic way.

• Did You Know? Peppers, catnip and garlic serve as natural pesticides, and corn gluten meal serves as a fungicide and herbicide, as well as a good supply of nitrogen fertilizer.

Now that you’re armed with 5 great tips to turn your garden into an organic one, it’s time to step outside and get to work. Nurturing your garden the organic way not only benefits the environment, but also serves as a fun pastime!

Grass that stays green all year 'round, even in the winter, is a real possibility.

Bluegrass, Bermuda grass, bent grass, buffalo grass—short grass, tall grass, summer grass, winter grass—everyone loves a yard with thick green grass!  However, if the many varieties of grass seem overwhelming, then trying to determine what type of seasonal grass to plant may be mind boggling. However, for those living in the northern region of the United States, the harsh winter weather and cold winter regions require specific varieties of winter grass (as do the South and mid-section). One such type is lolium perenne, also known as winter rye grass.

If part of your landscaping plan includes planting winter grass then be aware that perennial winter rye grass is frequently mixed with fescues and Kentucky bluegrass due to its sturdiness and ability to handle abundant foot traffic. Because of its medium-fine texture, bright green color, and ability to grow in a wide range of soil types, winter grass is often planted  in the South as an off season grass to keep the lawns green during the solder months. Winter rye grass grows rapidly with little, if any, soil preparation required. Planting winter grass is also a great way to shore up an embankment around your home. Winter rye grass could replace the well-known Kentucky bluegrass except that it does not “fan out” well, but grows in clumped sections. These clumps do not interact with each other, nor will the winter rye grass spread (or creep) about an open patch of yard because of its chemical make-up. Winter grass, however, does well in area of full sun. During the spring, the winter rye grass will be thick and green, but as the trees are covered in leaves, the shade causes the winter grass to suffer until the leaves fall and sunlight can restore the grass.

Perennial winter rye grass should not be mistaken for annual rye grass. Annual rye grass is cheaper, is quick to grow thick and green but is unable to withstand high heat or extreme cold. When you purchase grass seed, be sure to read the labels carefully as many companies will include annual rye grass (lolium multiflorum) into their mix, resulting in the consumer needing to purchase seed every year. However, it should be noted that for lawns in the South that have centipede grass, annual rye grass is recommended for over seeding and maintain winter “green-up.”

Q&A about Winter Rye Grass:

1. What zones should use winter rye grass?
   Areas 3-9.
2. How many days does it take to germinate?
   5-10.
3. What is winter grass mowing height?
   3-4 inches.
4. How much watering is needed?
   Average amounts; check with your local agricultural extension representative for the amount in your area.
5. How much work is required?
   Winter rye grass is low maintenance.
6. In what type of soil does winter rye grass prosper?
   Loam to clay.
7. How strong is winter grass tolerance to insect and disease?
   Very high.
8. When is the best time to planting winter grass?
   August to September.

A green lawn can be yours! Perennial winter rye grass can make it happen.

Wichita, KS is located on the Arkansas River and is in the midst of the great central plains of the United States. It is also a place of extreme weather fluctuation. The average summer temperature in Kansas is 81 degrees Fahrenheit in July, but extremes as high as 110 degrees are possible. Summer is a hot and humid time, but can include periods of drier weather as well. The spring and summer are also fair game when it comes to thunder storms, which can be accompanied by heavy rain, hail, high winds, and tornadoes. Average annual rainfall is about 15 inches.

In the winter Wichita, KS experiences the other extreme. The average temperature in January reaches a low of 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but the temperature can reach well below freezing. The average annual Kansas snowfall is 16 inches.

The most important things to consider when thinking about lawn care are the soil type and quality in the area. Fortunately, Kansas has some of the most fertile and easily worked prairie soils in the United States. The soils in Kansas tend to be silt loams. These are very nutrient-rich prairie soils that have the right conditions for growing. Because loam is such an easily worked and nutrient rich soil, there isn’t much you need to do to prepare it. It is important to check the acidity level of the soil and to balance it if necessary. Fertilization may be necessary in places in Kansas where the soil is beginning to lose its fertile nature.

Common Wichita Lawn Types

• Bermuda Grass
• Fescue Grass
• Centipede Grass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Wichita

• Cold Snaps
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• How to Mow Your Lawn
• Organic Pest Control
• Lawn Mower Accessories
• TruGreen Prices

How Wichita Residents Care for Their Lawns
In Wichita, KS the growing conditions for lawns is good for much of the year. The soil in Kansas is very fertile and this means that there is less care involved than in many other portions of the country. One of the most important factors in lawn care is to keep the lawn mowed and to control the insects that might damage the lawn, such as grubs. Insect control can be accomplished with a good pesticide. If the lawn is in need of fertilization, there are good fertilizers available.

Featured Wichita Lawn Service Provider
When your lawn care, lawn maintenance, or lawn repair is more than you can handle you can call on a professional to do the job. In Wichita, KS you will find the Kansas lawn care specialist, TruGreen. TruGreen will take care of all of your lawn care needs and offers a wide range of services to ensure your lawn is well cared for. Call on TruGreen today for a free evaluation and enjoy the TruGreen guarantee of quality.

Pensacola, FL is not as hot and humid as much of the rest of the state. The maximum summer temperature in this part of Florida is a balmy 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the area experiences mild seasonal changes. In the winter the temperature can go as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Florida summers are quite humid, but that humidity wanes as fall approaches. Rainfall in Pensacola, FL is fairly high year round, with the lowest average rainfall being around than 4 inches. July is the month with the highest rainfall with 8 inches of rain on average.

The summer heat and humidity and the high amount of rainfall make this area of Florida an oasis for plant life of many kinds. Growth excels during the summer and because of this proper lawn care is extremely important. In the winter months, the near freezing temperatures can cause stress for many plant species that thrive during the summer months in Florida. When planning your lawn and garden in this part of Florida, it is important to consider what plants will be able to stand up to these lower temperatures.

The soil type in Pensacola, FL must also be taken into consideration. In general, Florida has soil that is low in phosphorous materials and it is a sandy soil, which makes growing some plant life a challenge. The soil is not nutrient rich in general and it does not hold water well. The sandy soil of Florida also is home to a variety of nematodes. In short, these are difficult conditions to grow anything other than native plants. This means that lawn and garden care in Florida can be time consuming. When adding organic material to the soil, for example, a ratio of 25% sand to 75% organic material is necessary for most forms of plant life. Organic material must also be added to the soil on an annual basis to ensure that the organic composition of the soil is maintained.

Common Pensacola Lawn Types

• St. Augustine Grass
• Bahia Grass
• Centipede Grass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Pensacola

• Cold Snaps
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil or sandy soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Winter Grass
• Liquid Fertilizer
• All About St. Augustine Grass
• Centipede Grass
• TruGreen Lawn Care

How Pensacola Residents Care for Their Lawns
In Pensacola, FL there are a wide range of products available to help residents maintain a healthy and eye-catching lawn all year round. Fertilizers and pesticides that can be sprayed on the lawn are a popular choice. These can help to restore and balance the pH of the soil and get rid of the undesirable weeds and insects that can destroy an otherwise beautiful lawn. In Pensacola, FL the most harmful pest is the Mole Cricket. This insect lives beneath the turf and is rarely seen. However, it can do a lot of damage to your lawn through tunneling and eating the roots of the grass. Aside from the above care, mowing the lawn is required on a regular basis due to the rapid growth of the grass.

Featured Pensacola Lawn Service Provider
Many people don’t have the time or the knowledge to handle the lawn care in such conditions. Fortunately, there are lawn care professionals in Pensacola, FL that you can call on for all your lawn and garden needs. TruGreen is the top Pensacola, Florida professional lawn care provider. TruGreen can care for any lawn and garden and has available a wide range of treatments to ensure the health and growth of your plants. Services include lawn mowing, trimming, planting, and others to meet your general landscaping and maintenance needs. So call on TruGreen for all your lawn care needs.

New Orleans, LA offers a sub-tropical climate, which is ideal for lush growth. The summers in Louisiana are hot and humid and average temperatures reach as high as 91 degrees Fahrenheit. The low in the winter is still a comfortable 46 degrees Fahrenheit. October tends to be the driest month and the summer months bring in more precipitation, with an average of around 6 inches of rain falling in July.

The challenge in New Orleans, LA is its low elevation and its susceptibility to hurricanes that often come through the area. The Louisiana coastline is sinking and New Orleans has an elevation that is below sea level, with water surrounding it to the north, east, and south. This low elevation means the natural level of the water table in this part of Louisiana is just below the surface and these are very wet conditions in which to grow vegetation. With pumping, the water table is artificially kept lower, but when it rains there is flooding everywhere and with the pumping comes subsidence.

The soil in New Orleans, LA is very wet and acts like a sponge every time it rains. The soil itself is sandy silt and clay. This is a good mixture for soil fertility and needs to have organic material added to it to ensure proper drainage and consistency. It is important to get the pH tested so that you know the acidity of the soil and then you can add fertilizer as necessary.

Common New Orleans Lawn Types

• St. Augustine
• Bermuda Grass
• Centipede Grass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in New Orleans

• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Wet Soil
• Subsidence

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Mowing Wet Grass
• Lawn Drainage
• Lawn Weeds and Pests
• TruGreen

How New Orleans Residents Care for Their Lawns
In New Orleans, LA lawn care calls for an assortment of treatments and activities. It is important to mow the lawn regularly as the subtropical climate of Louisiana allows for quick growth of grass. Mowing twice a week in the summer and once a week in the winter is usually sufficient. In addition to this, it is a good idea to ensure a balanced pH in your soil. Fertilizers are helpful in balancing the pH. There also might be a need for pesticides, particularly for the sod webworm caterpillar, which is common in Louisiana and eats the grass at a fast rate causing dead patches to appear in the lawn.

Featured New Orleans Lawn Service Provider
Lawn care might not be for everyone and if you cannot keep up with the care of your lawn or do not wish to do it yourself, then you can call on a lawn care professional for all your needs. TruGreen is the Louisiana lawn care specialist to call on in New Orleans and when you do you will not be disappointed. TruGreen offers a wide range of services for lawn maintenance and lawn repair as well as other services including trimming, planting, and more. Call TruGreen today and sign up for a free lawn care evaluation

Lexington, KY is situated in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Country and is an area full of small creeks and streams that run into the Kentucky River. The area is seasonal, but the range of temperatures and weather in Kentucky is generally not extreme. The average rainfall per month is 3-4 inches. The average summer temperature in Kentucky is about 77 degrees Fahrenheit and in January the average is 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

The soils in the Lexington, KY area are silty and sandy loams. These are very fertile and nutrient-rich soils with an abundance of organic material. The soils of Kentucky are also well drained. Although Kentucky soil is generally healthy, it is still important to check a few things. Determine the pH and balance of it if necessary. Fertilizers can also be applied to help the health of the lawn if nutrients have been depleted.

Common Lexington Lawn Types

• Bermuda Grass
• Fescue Grass
• Centipede Grass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Lexington

• Cold Snaps
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Winterizing Your Lawn
• Bermuda Grass Maintenance
• Zoysia Grass
• Organic Fertilizer
• TruGreen

How Lexington Residents Care for Their Lawns
Lexington, KY residents can take a number of measures to care for their lawns. Mowing is one of the best things to do. It not only improves the look of the lawn, but also keeps it healthy. If the soil fertility isn’t good, organic material and fertilizers are available. Fertilizers are also used to balance the pH of the lawn and to reduce the amount of weeds in the lawn. Grubs are a problem in virtually any lawn, including those in Kentucky, and there are a number of pesticides from which to choose.

Featured Lexington Lawn Service Provider
When lawn care in Lexington, KY becomes too much to handle or you just don’t feel you have a green enough thumb to pull it off, you can call on the local professionals to care for your lawn and get the job done right. In Lexington you will find TruGreen, your Kentucky lawn care specialist. TruGreen offers a wide range of services including lawn maintenance, lawn repair, planting, trimming, and more. Call on TruGreen today for a free evaluation of your lawn.

Indianapolis, IN lawn care is highly dependent on the area’s climate and soil. Indianapolis has a fairly temperate climate and fairly even rainfall all year round. On average the annual rainfall in Indiana is 40 inches and the average snowfall is 23 inches. In the winter, the average temperature in January is 26 degrees Fahrenheit and in July the temperature reaches a comfortable average of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Indianapolis has an elevation of 645 to 910 feet above sea level. This makes the soil content in Indiana clay-rich with high nutrient levels; however, the soil is not very porous. Adding a lot of organic material to this soil will help loosen it up and make it workable. This will also improve your lawn’s drainage.

Common Indianapolis Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Indianapolis

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Why Lawn Aerating is Necessary
• Winter Lawn Care
• Mowing Wet Grass
• TruGreen

How Indianapolis Residents Care for Their Lawns
To care for the Indianapolis, IN lawn a few things need to be considered. If the soil is compacted and clay-rich, then using organic material and aerating the lawn is a good place to begin. Aerating the lawn will allow for better drainage and help the fertilizer to settle into the ground. Organic material will do the same and will also improve the nutrient content of the soil. Fertilizers will help balance the pH of the soil and it will also help reduce weeds. Liming the soil might also be necessary. For the general maintenance of your Indiana lawn, it is important to mow it regularly and to not cut it below a length of about 3 inches. Insect pests such as grubs can be managed by the use of pesticides.

Featured Indianapolis Lawn Service Provider
When you do not want to spend the time making your lawn look gorgeous, you can call a professional Indianapolis lawn care provider to get the job done right. TruGreen is that Indiana professional. This Indiana lawn care expert offers lawn care, lawn repair, and lawn maintenance and their services include planting, trimming, and landscaping. When you need lawn care services call on TruGreen for a free evaluation.

Chicago, IL has a climate that includes high amounts of precipitation and hot, fairly humid summers. Summer temperatures in Illinois range from around 78 degrees to 92 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, the temperatures can dip below freezing, with an average temperature of 29 degrees Fahrenheit in January. The rainiest part of the year is summer and the annual average amount of precipitation is 36 inches. The winter brings an average of 38 inches of snow with it. Although Chicago is near Lake Michigan, it rarely gets lake-effect snow because a prevailing westerly wind passes Chicago before it acquires moisture from the lake. For this reason, winter storms are rare and Chicago might get one per year.

The lawns and plants in Chicago, IL must be able to stand up to the high levels of precipitation and the cooler weather in the winter. As such, the choice of grass must reflect this climate. Chicago also has a unique soil composition. When the city was first built the soil was too wet to support construction. Repeated filling treatments were done to help absorb the excess moisture and make the land more suitable for building on. Now, the subsoil has a very high clay content and near the lakeshore there may be sandier soil. Unfortunately, city development and filling of the soil during the city’s construction has stripped much of the natural nutrients from the land.

In order to improve the workability and nutritional quality of the soil in Chicago, IL working organic material into it is necessary. This will loosen up and clayey soil, add nutrients, and allow for better drainage. Organic material will need to be added annually to ensure that the soil remains loose and workable.

Common Chicago Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Chicago

• Winter Weather
• High Amount of Precipitation
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Winter Grass
• Nitrogen Fertilizer
• Lawn Weeds
• Pest Control
• TruGreen Prices

How Chicago Residents Care for Their Lawns
Residents of Chicago, Illinois have a wide range of products available to help them make their lawns beautiful. The most important thing that can be done to improve the soil’s workability is to ensure that the soil has a good pH balance. There are various organic fertilizers that will do this as well as help control weeds. Pesticides are also available to control the insects that are harmful to the lawn in Illinois, particularly white grubs that feed on the roots of the grass. Mowing the lawn regularly not only maintains its beauty, but helps maintain the health of the lawn. It is recommended that the mowing length not be shorter than about 3 inches.

Featured Chicago Lawn Service Provider
When you are looking to maintain a healthy, vibrant lawn in Chicago, IL and you either cannot or do not wish to do the work yourself, then you can call on a lawn care company to help. TruGreen is the Chicago, Illinois lawn care expert and they have a wide range of services that include lawn maintenance, lawn repair, and garden and tree care as well. Call TruGreen today and have a free evaluation of your lawn done.

Boise Idaho is surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Idaho has a very temperate climate, in which the hottest summer temperatures are just above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and in the month of January, the temperature can dip to below freezing, reaching an average of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The summers are very dry and most of the precipitation comes during the winter months. The annual precipitation is usually about a foot of rainfall and 21 inches of snow.

Because the summers are dry in Idaho, irrigation of the lawn is essential. Less water is needed during the spring and fall. Many Idaho residents have sprinkler systems installed in their lawns to ensure proper irrigation. In the summer, most grass types need about 2 inches of water per week and only about 1 inch per week in the winter.

In Boise, ID the soil type is generally clay-rich, which means that it retains moisture easily, but when it dries out, it hardens and cracks. Clay-rich soils have high nutrients levels, but are hard to work. Boise residents can add organic material to the soil in order to help increase its workability. It is also important to ensure the pH is at an acceptable level and adding lime might also help to make the soil more workable.

Common Boise Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Buffalo Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Boise

• Low Rainfall
• Sunburned Lawn
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Lawn Irrigation
• Drought Resistant Grass
• Lawn Care Equipment
• Organic Lawn Fertilizer
• TruGreen

How Boise Residents Care for Their Lawns
Boise, ID residents need to ensure proper irrigation of their lawns as the climate is so dry. This, along with mowing regularly, is crucial to a healthy lawn. When mowing the lawn, it is important not to cut it lower than about 3 inches. Any lower and it can compromise the root growth and the grass can become more susceptible to drought. It is also important to ensure the soil is workable with a balanced pH and enough nutrients. Mixing organic matter with the clay-rich soil will provide the added nutrients and will break up the clay so that water can filter through it more easily. Residents of the Boise, ID are can also use pesticides to help control insect pests, particularly the Billbug, the larvae of which feed on the root system of the grass.

Featured Boise Lawn Service Provider
Lawn care in Boise, ID can be challenging due to the dry climate. If you are having a difficult time getting the lawn you want or you just don’t want to put the time in to make it beautiful you can call in an expert to take care of your lawn maintenance and lawn repair. TruGreen is the Idaho lawn care professional to call on for all your lawn care needs. From regular lawn maintenance to trimming, planting, and landscaping, TruGreen will create a lawn of beauty of which you will be proud. Call TruGreen for a free evaluation today.

St. Louis, MO has a unique location within the continental United States because it is situated on the border between the continental climate and the subtropical climate. This, coupled with the fact that there are no major land features to control the weather, means that this part of Missouri experiences extreme climate fluctuations.

The summers in St. Louis, MO are humid and in July the average temperature reaches 91 degrees Fahrenheit, although it can easily go above 100 degrees. During the winter, temperatures dip drastically, hitting an average of 21 degrees Fahrenheit in January. The summers in this part of Missouri are also notorious for severe thunderstorms.

The soil in eastern Missouri is a spectacular silt loam that is highly nutrient-rich and very easily worked. This means that little preparation is needed for your lawn. It is still important to have the soil tested for pH and nutrient content so that adjustments can be made if necessary. Adding lime and/or fertilizer can help correct any problems with your soil’s pH levels.

Common St. Louis Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in St. Louis

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Winter Grass
• Mowing Wet Grass
• Lawn Irrigation
• Over Seeding a Lawn
• TruGreen Prices

How St. Louis Residents Care for Their Lawns
In St. Louis, MO lawn care is a must, especially during the hot, humid summers. Mowing the lawn the proper height, about 3 inches, and keeping it well irrigated can help keep your lawn healthy. Aerating and seeding the lawn, particularly in the fall can also help keep your lawn looking good throughout the summer. It is also important to ensure the pH is balanced and that insect pests, such as grubs, are controlled with the proper application of pesticides.

Featured St. Louis Lawn Service Provider
Whether or not you like working with your lawn, sometimes you need professional help. In St. Louis, MO TruGreen is the company to call. TruGreen is the Missouri lawn care specialist who will take care of all your needs. Whether you need lawn maintenance, lawn repair, or other lawn and garden services, TruGreen is ready to take care of your lawn. Call TruGreen in Missouri today for a free evaluation.

Portland, ME has a continental climate. This means warm, humid summers and cold, sometimes harsh winters. Portland is on the Southern coast of Maine, where the climate is more moist and warmer that in the northern part of the state. Summer temperatures in this part of Maine go as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the average in July is near 80 degrees. During the winter, temperatures can dip very low with an average of about 12 degrees Fahrenheit in January.

Precipitation in Portland, ME is fairly steady throughout the year, with an average of 3 to 5 inches per month. August is the driest month, which means that irrigation is needed for lawns in Portland. An average of about 6 inches of snow falls during a Portland, ME winter.

The soil in Portland, ME is silty clay and offers poor drainage. This can be helped by working in organic material in order to loosen up the soil and get the water moving. Maine has a short growing season so seeding the lawn in the late summer is best. Fertilizers and liming can also help improve soil quality and drainage. Be sure to check the pH of the soil; you may find that you need to balance your lawn’s acidity.

Common Portland Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Portland

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Soil With Inadequate Drainage

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Irrigation Tips
• Lawn Drainage
• Organic Lawn Fertilizer
• TruGreen Lawn Services
• How to Control the Chinch Bug

How Portland Residents Care for Their Lawns
Residents of Portland, ME have a short and relatively dry growing season. As such, it is important to follow the necessary steps to keep lawns looking healthy year round. Watering the lawn frequently is a good idea. In addition, fertilizing the lawn will help it grow healthier and with fewer weeds and ensuring the pH is balanced is crucial. Mowing is important for lawn health in Maine as it is everywhere else. Pests can also harm Maine lawns. The most common pests in Maine are the white grub and the Chinch bug. These can be effectively eliminated with the use of pesticides.

Featured Portland Lawn Service Provider
When lawn care in Portland, ME is too much to handle or of it just isn’t your thing, then call on TruGreen, the Maine lawn care specialists. TruGreen can take care of all your lawn needs, including lawn maintenance and lawn repair, trimming, planting, and more. If you want a beautiful lawn in Portland, ME, call TruGreen today for a free evaluation.

Kansas City, MO is located in the center of the United States. It is also near the meeting of the Missouri River and the Kansas River. The weather in this part of Missouri can be extreme. In the summer, moist air comes up from the Gulf of Mexico, making the air humid. Temperatures in the summer can rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but usually average 90 degrees in July. Kansas City, MO is also situated in Tornado Alley, which means that severe storms can pass through the area.

Winters in Missouri can also be extreme. The average temperature in January is a frigid 21 degrees Fahrenheit and the average annual amount of precipitation is 38 inches, with 20 inches of snow fall in a winter.

Western Missouri is known for its heavy clay and rich prairie loam soils. If your soil is has a high clay content, then you will need to add organic material to it in order to make it more workable and to increase drainage and nutrients level. The loam of western Missouri is already very rich in nutrients although some fertilizer may be required.

Common Kansas City Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Kansas City

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Potentially Heavy Clays

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Lawn Watering Done Right
• Organic Lawn Fertilizer
• Zoysia Grass
• TruGreen

How Kansas City Residents Care for Their Lawns
In Kansas City, MO residents must ensure their lawn has the proper nutrients, pH, and drainage to remain healthy. Adding organic material and fertilizer are helpful and a good way to keep weeds at bay. Pesticides can be used to minimize insect pests, including grubs. In addition to this, regular mowing is recommended. This not only improves its beauty, but also its level of health.

Featured Kansas City Lawn Service Provider
There are those who love to care for their lawn and there are those who would rather enjoy their lawn without having to put in the work to maintain it. Fortunately, the Missouri lawn care specialist is ready and waiting. TruGreen services the Kansas City, MO area and will take care of lawn maintenance, lawn repair, trimming, planting, and so much more. Call TruGreen today for a free evaluation.

Southfield, MI is located near the Great Lakes. This causes the city to experience a continental climate that has warm summers and cold winters. Summers are humid and in July the average temperature is a warm 83 degrees Fahrenheit. The winter in this part of Michigan has a high average temperature in January of 31 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures can reach extremes and will often go well below freezing in the winter and above 90 degrees in the summer.

In Southfield, MI precipitation amounts are fairly steady throughout the year, with an average monthly precipitation of 2-4 inches. There can be very significant amounts of snowfall between November and April, with a monthly average of 1 to 10 inches. Much of the snow in Michigan is caused by cold air blowing over the Great Lakes.

The area of Southfield, MI contains clay-rich soil. This soil becomes compacted easily and it does not drain well. It is also difficult to work. For this reason it is recommended to add a lot of organic material to the soil in order to increase workability and drainage. Aerating the lawn will also improve drainage and reduce compaction and adding fertilizers will improve the health of the lawn.

Common Southfield Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Southfield

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

How Southfield Residents Care for Their Lawns
Lawns in Southfield, MI have a short growing season. For this reason, it is important to ensure maximum growth and health during the summer months. The clay-rich soil needs to be aerated and needs organic material to be added on an annual basis in order to loosen it and improve drainage. Fertilizers are needed to improve lawn health and to reduce unwanted weeds. The pH must be balanced as well and it may be necessary to add a pesticide to the lawn to reduce the impact of harmful insects such as white grubs.

Featured Southfield Lawn Service Provider
When you don’t have the time or energy to care for your lawn or when the problem seems too overwhelming, you need a lawn care professional that you can trust in Southfield, MI. That Michigan lawn care specialist is TruGreen. TruGreen offers services that include lawn maintenance, lawn repair, and garden services including trimming, flower planting, and much more. Call on TruGreen today for all your Michigan lawn care needs and you will receive a free evaluation of your lawn.

Detroit, MI has a continental climate. This means it has a very warm humid summer and a cold winter. The weather is affected by the presence of the Great Lakes. The average high temperature for Detroit in July is a warm 83 degrees Fahrenheit and in the winter the January high is 31 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures can easily reach more extreme values during the summer and winter.

There is plenty of precipitation in Detroit, MI and on average the monthly precipitation is 2 to 4 inches. Snowfall in the winter generally happens between November and April and can be very heavy, averaging from 1 to 10 inches per month. It is common for Detroit, MI to experience lake-effect snow due to its location relative to the Great Lakes.

The soil in Detroit, MI and the surrounding area is generally clay-rich. This means that it is fairly nutrient-rich, but it offers poor drainage and becomes easily compacted. To loosen up the soil for drainage and workability, add lots of organic material. Fertilizing and aerating the lawn will also improve drainage and the health of the lawn.

Common Detroit Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Detroit

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

Winter Lawn Care
• Lawn Watering
• How to Mow Your Lawn
• TruGreen

How Detroit Residents Care for Their Lawns
In Detroit, MI lawn care in important due to the short growing season and the nature of the soil. It is important to ensure that the lawn has enough drainage and that the soil is not compacted. For this reason, aerating the lawn is important and adding a lot of organic material will help as well. Adding organic material annually will be necessary. Fertilizing the lawn will help reduce the amount of weeds and keep the lawn healthy. In addition, it may be necessary to use pesticides in order to control insect pests, such the white grubs that are common in Michigan. Additionally, be sure that the pH of your Michigan lawn is well balanced.

Featured Detroit Lawn Service Provider
In Detroit, MI lawn care can be a pleasure or a pain. When you need professional help, call on the true Michigan lawn care specialist, TruGreen. TruGreen will help you care for your lawn and offers many services, including lawn maintenance, lawn repair, trimming, planting, and more. So call on TruGreen in Michigan today for a free evaluation of your lawn.

Boston, MA has a very diverse climate. Massachusetts is located at the very northern border of the subtropical humid zone and is also affected by the humid continental climate. This means Massachusetts has hot, humid summers and cold winters. In Boston, MA the average temperature in July reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter the average temperature in January is 36 degrees, although the temperature frequently goes below freezing.

Annual precipitation averages 43 inches in Boston, MA and in the winter the city sees an average of 40 inches of snow. The climate is kept somewhat mild due to the location of Boston, MA on the Atlantic Ocean. However, this location also brings strong Nor-easters, which are weather systems that bring large amounts of precipitation into the area. North and west of Boston, MA the amount of snowfall increases significantly.

Boston and much of Massachusetts is defined by Paxton Soil, which is a fine sandy loam. This is a very rich soil in which to grow plant life and is good for lawn growth. This soil drains well and holds a water table. Fertilization might be required in areas where nutrient depletion has occurred.

Common Boston Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Boston

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Winter Grass
• Liquid Lawn Fertilizer
• Planting a New Lawn
• Zoysia Grass
• TruGreen

How Boston Residents Care for Their Lawns
Lawn care in Boston, MA is relatively basic, but some maintenance is still required to ensure a healthy lawn. Mowing the lawn regularly is important for the look and health of the lawn. Adding fertilizers will improve the health of the lawn as well as reduce the number of weeds present. Pest control is also important and pesticides are available in order to control insects, such as grubs and Chinch bugs, which are common in Massachusetts.

Featured Boston Lawn Service Provider
General lawn care can be a pleasure, but sometimes it is just too much to deal with. Whether you need temporary help or wish to turn your lawn care over to a professional in Boston, MA, you can call on TruGreen. TruGreen is the Massachusetts lawn care specialist that will take care of lawn maintenance, lawn repair, as well as trimming, planting, and other lawn care needs. TruGreen is available for a free evaluation of your lawn so call today.

Baltimore, MD sits on the Atlantic coast of the United States and is protected from extreme fluctuations in weather conditions by the Appalachian Mountains to the west and Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The average July temperature in Maryland is only 77 degrees Fahrenheit and the average winter temperature in January is balmy 32 degrees. This area experiences severe thunderstorms and hurricanes during the summer and fall respectively and often experiences sleet and freezing rain in the winter.

Maryland soil is a sandy loam, which is rich in nutrients and very easy to work. This is fertile soil that is ideal for lawns and plant life of any kind. If there has been nutrient degradation, then fertilizers may need to be added to the soil to ensure maximum health. Drainage is good in this soil, but if any compaction has occurred, then the lawn needs to be aerated annually. Soil testing is recommended in order to ensure the pH is balanced.

Common Baltimore Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Baltimore

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Soil Compaction
• Mowing Wet Grass
• TruGreen
• Ryegrass Lawns

How Baltimore Residents Care for Their Lawns
In Baltimore, MD residents need to ensure that their lawns are cared for during their relatively short growing season. Lawns get plenty of precipitation, but cooler summers. Mowing the Maryland lawn is important and it is also important to ensure a balanced pH and a winterized lawn. Granular fertilizers can be used to enhance the lawn and minimize the appearance and growth of weeds. When it comes to insect pests, such as grubs and Chinch bugs, there are many pesticides from which to choose on the market. Taking care of a Maryland lawn will allow it to grow healthy and strong all summer long.

Featured Baltimore Lawn Service Provider
Baltimore, MD residents are often in need of a lawn care professional who can provide lawn maintenance and lawn repair. The Maryland lawn care expert is TruGreen. TruGreen will ensure that your lawn care needs, including gardening needs such as trimming and planting, are met so that you can enjoy the lawn of your dreams. Call on TruGreen in Maryland today and enjoy our free evaluation of your lawn.

St. Paul, MN is a truly windy city and one of two cities, the other being Minneapolis, that stand side-by-side and are known as the twin cities. St. Paul sits in the state of Minnesota, in the center of the continental United States, and in the continental climate zone as well. This means that Minnesota bears the brunt of clashing weather systems and extreme temperatures because there are no landforms that can form a natural barrier of protection.

In the summer, St. Paul, MN experiences high humidity as air from the Gulf of Mexico makes its way north. The average high temperature in July is 83 degrees Fahrenheit, although it can reach above 90 degrees. Summer in St. Paul, Minnesota also brings severe thunder storms and tornadoes and Minnesota is at the northern end of Tornado Alley. In January the average high is 22 degrees Fahrenheit due to the Arctic air that comes from the north.

Minnesota is known for its heavy clay soil. Clay soils are themselves known for poor drainage and they are very difficult to work. The way to loosen them up is to work organic material into them and this should be done annually to ensure the soil remains loose and will have good drainage. Aeration is another method by which the soil can be loosened up and drainage can be improved. Fertilizing for pH and weed control may also be necessary.

Common St. Paul Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in St. Paul

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• How to Mow Your Lawn
• How to Choose a Lawn Care Company
• Nutrients Needed By Lawns
• TruGreen
• How to Control the Chinch Bug

How St. Paul Residents Care for Their Lawns
In St. Paul, MN lawn care is required for a short growing season. The clay soil must be aerated and organic material must be added to it so that it will provide better drainage and will be easier to work with. The Chinch bug has also made an appearance in St. Paul, Minnesota and this means that measures must be taken into account where lawn care is concerned. There are many pesticides from which to choose to ensure an insect-free lawn. Fertilizers are necessary in order to keep the weeds under control and the pH balanced. Finally, it is crucial to mow the lawn regularly so maintain its appearance and its level of health.

Featured St. Paul Lawn Service Provider
When you live in St. Paul, MN and you do not have the time or the desire to care for your lawn, TruGreen is the Minnesota lawn care expert that can solve all your lawn care problems. TruGreen offers many services including lawn maintenance, lawn repair, planting, trimming, and more. When you want the best lawn around and you need the help of a professional, trust TruGreen to come in and evaluate your lawn for free and work to give you the lawn you desire.

Minneapolis, MN is one of two cities, the other being St. Paul, that together are known as the twin cities. This area of Minnesota is in the center of the United States and has no natural barriers to protect it from weather systems. This means that there are a wide range of temperatures in this part of Minnesota.

The summer temperatures are warm and the atmosphere is humid as the air comes up from the Gulf of Mexico. The average high temperature in this part of Minnesota in July is 83 degrees Fahrenheit and in January that high dips as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit as the cold arctic air comes down from Canada. Minnesota is also an area that experiences high winds. Tornadoes are an annual occurrence in Minneapolis, MN as the city is located near the northern end of Tornado Alley.

The soil in Minneapolis, MN is clay-rich soil. This means a high nutrient content, but low drainage and when it does get dry, it hardens and cracks. To loosen up the soil and improve the drainage, it is important to add lots of organic material to it. Aeration will also help the drainage of the soil and lessen the level of compaction. In addition to this, it is important to test the pH of the soil and adjust it if necessary.

Common Minneapolis Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Minneapolis

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Grass Aerator
• Planting a Rye Grass Lawn
• Controlling Chinch Bugs
• Mowing Wet Grass
• TruGreen Landscaping

How Minneapolis Residents Care for Their Lawns
In Minneapolis, MN lawns have a short growing season, yet humid, hot summers. Proper and regular mowing is crucial to the success of any lawn. In addition, the tough clay of Minnesota will need organic material and annual aeration in order to keep it loose and workable and draining properly. The use of pesticides may also be required to keep control of insect pests that can do damage to the lawn, particularly the Chinch bug and white grubs. Fertilizers are also available to help balance the pH of the soil and diminish unwanted weeds.

Featured Minneapolis Lawn Service Provider
In Minneapolis, MN there are times when you just don’t want to deal with your lawn. Whether you want help with lawn repair, regular lawn maintenance, or garden care that includes planting and trimming, the lawn care expert in Minnesota is TruGreen. TruGreen is just a phone call away when you need a lawn care professional and offers a free evaluation of your lawn.

Elmhurst, IL lies to the west of the Great Lakes, saving this part of Illinois from lake-effect snow in the winter. However, this part of Illinois still receives a high amount of precipitation throughout the year, with an average annual rainfall of 36 inches. Most of this precipitation falls in the summer, but in the winter this area of Illinois sees an average of 38 inches of snow.

Summer temperatures in Elmhurst, IL are warm and the air is humid. Summer temperatures in Illinois range from 78 degrees to 92 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter the temperatures can dip below freezing, with an average temperature of 29 degrees Fahrenheit in January.

The soil in Elmhurst, IL contains a lot of clay. This makes it heavy, impermeable, and difficult to work. When you want to plant a new lawn or care for your existing grass, then lots of organic material must be added to the soil. This will loosen up the soil and allow for better drainage. Aeration is another good way to improve drainage and reduce compaction in the soil. The soil in this part of Illinois should also be tested for pH.

Common Elmhurst Lawn Types

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fescue Grass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Zoysia Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Elmhurst

• Winter Weather
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• How to Mow Your Lawn
• Spring Lawn Fertilizer
• Do-It-Yourself Lawn Repair
• TruGreen Landcare

How Elmhurst Residents Care for Their Lawns
Lawn care in Elmhurst, IL is fairly routine yet knowing the insider tricks is important. Every lawn needs to be mowed regularly to maintain its health and beauty and lawns in Illinois are no different. In addition to this, there are often insects that prey on the lawn, such as white grubs, and a good pesticide is needed to control them. When it comes to the pH of the soil, a fertilizer is a great way to balance the pH and control weeds. It is also important to aerate the lawn annually and to put down organic material so that the soil will allow good drainage and be easier to work.

Featured Elmhurst Lawn Service Provider
Some people greatly enjoy caring for their lawn, but sometimes it is time to hand it over to a professional who can see to all your lawn care needs. In Elmhurst TruGreen is the Illinois lawn care professional to call upon. TruGreen will come in and do a free evaluation and they offer a wide range of services including lawn maintenance and lawn repair. Gardening services and trimming are available too. Call TruGreen today for your free evaluation.

San Antonio, TX exists in a subtropical climate that is loaded with sunshine and clear skies much of the year.  Situated amongst oak trees, mesquite, and cacti, this city has a lush landscape.  Average annual precipitation is about 28 inches and comes mostly in the form of light rain.  However, summers are also very humid and because this part of Texas is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico, San Antonio experiences severe storms and hurricanes.

Temperatures in San Antonio, TX are on the warm side in the winter, with an average January temperature of 49 degrees Fahrenheit.  It is not common for the temperature goes below freezing, although it does happen a few days during the winter.  In the summer the average July temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit and San Antonio, TX is the fourth hottest city in the United States.  There are, on average, 111 days with temperatures over 90 degrees.

In San Antonio, TX the soils are calcareous and generally clay rich in many areas.  Testing the soil for pH and nutrients is important before beginning any lawn work.  If the soil has a high clay content, then working organic material into it will loosen it up and allow for better drainage.  Applying a fertilizer will help balance the pH if necessary.

Common San Antonio Lawn Types

• Bermuda Grass
• St. Augustine Grass
• Zoysia Grass
• Buffalo Grass

Common Lawn Problems in San Antonio

• Potential Freezing during Winter
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Severe Storms

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Winter Grass
• How to Choose a Lawn Care Company
• Do-It-Yourself Lawn Repair
• Lawn Mower Review: Cub Cadet 2166
• How to Control the Chinch Bug

How San Antonio Residents Care for Their Lawns

San Antonio, TX residents need to ensure a healthy lawn for the beauty of their home.  A healthy lawn starts with healthy soil and to improve the quality of the soil it is important to begin with adding organic material to it to improve the workability and drainage of the clay-rich soil.  Fertilizers are available and will help establish a balanced pH and will also help reduce weeds.  In this part of Texas, high amounts rain can cause washed out lawns, so it is important to ensure your lawn is tough.  This means that reducing the amount of insect pests by using pesticides may be necessary.  In addition, lawns in Texas should be mowed regularly to a minimum length of 3 inches to ensure optimum health.

Featured San Antonio Lawn Service Provider

San Antonio, TX lawns need care to look their best and when you cannot provide this care or would rather not, then you need a professional to come in and get the job done.  The San Antonio lawn care professional is TruGreen.  TruGreen offers a wide range of services to ensure you have the best in lawn care.  This includes lawn maintenance, lawn repair, as well as trimming, planting, and other gardening needs.  Call on TruGreen in San Antonio, TX today for a free evaluation of your lawn.

Birmingham, Alabama, is nestled in the Jones Valley, on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains.  Known for its hot and humid summers, temperatures average in the upper eighties or nineties July-September, and the humidity is high, as is typical of this humid, sub-tropical region.  Rainfall stays fairly constant year-round, with an average of 4-6 inches of rain per month.  High humidity, combined with regular rainfall ensures fast growth of both lawn grass and lawn pests and diseases.  Summer lawn care in Birmingham is a necessity.

However, Birmingham, AL also experiences cold winters, when temperatures often hover around or just below freezing. The city and its surrounding suburbs – including Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, Alabaster, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Pelham and more – often experiences cold snaps, with temperatures dropping below freezing for several days. Because many homeowners in the humid south overseed their warm-season lawn grasses with cool season annual grasses, winter lawn care is also a must.  Spring and fall in Birmingham often bring severe storms that damage trees and cause flooding.  Excellent landscape care helps alleviate some of the problems associated with storm damage.

The predominant soil type in the Birmingham area is acidic clay soil that is largely devoid of plant nutrients.  Farming, development, flooding and other events have stripped much soil of its nutrients and weakened its ability to replenish itself.     Birmingham residents should consider adding compost fertilizers to their lawns to encourage healthy growth. Adding lime to the soil is another technique that Birmingham residents use to soften the soil and make it more workable.

Common Birmingham Lawn Types

• Bermuda Grass
• Bahia Grass
• Tall Fescue Grass
• Centipede Grass
• Zoysia Grass
• St. Augustine Grass

Common Lawn Problems in Birmingham

• Cold Snaps
• Weeds
• Inadequate Soil pH
• Insect Pests
• Hard, tough clay soil

Helpful Articles on Lawn Care & Maintenance:

• Spring Vegetables
• How to Choose a Lawn Care Company
• Lawn Edging
• Potassium Fertilizer
• Lawn Watering Equipment

How Birmingham Residents Care for Their Lawns

There are a large range of products available to Birmingham residents to help them properly manage their lawn. Many residents use a variety of equipment and products to maintain a healthy lawn.  Mowers, trimmers, blowers, sprayers, de-thatchers and aerators are the most common types of equipment.  Lawn fertilizer helps replenish nutrients and soil additives such as lime raise the pH of the soil, allowing lawn grass to better take up nutrients.   Many Birmingham, AL residents also use pesticide treatments to prevent or eliminate harmful pests such as Japanese beetles, grubs and crickets. Additionally, regular mowing is a necessary part of Birmingham lawn care for many residents, because it keeps grass healthy and free of insects.

Featured Birmingham Lawn Service Provider

If your lawn problems are too difficult to handle with the above solutions, or if you just don’t have the time to manage your lawn on your own, it might be time to consider calling a professional Birmingham lawn service provider. TruGreen is the Birmingham, AL expert and offers customers a wide range of treatments for their lawns and yards. They can also help with maintenance and landscaping, including mowing the grass, trimming bushes, planting flowers and more. Call TruGreen today for a free lawn evaluation and get an unmatched guarantee.

Parkersburg is a city located in Wood County in the state of West Virginia.  This city is the third largest in the state.  The population of this city is fairly high and continues to grow at a very high rate.  The United States Census Bureau has estimated that the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²), of which 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) of it is occupied by land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it is occupied by water.  The total area of water is 3.19%.

The temperature in Parkersburg during the summer tends surpass 80 degrees.  The winters are very cold in this region, where the temperature could go well below 30 degrees.  Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

Soil Types In Parkersburg

• Loamy soil
• Silty soil
• Chalky soil
• Clay soil
• Peaty soil
• Sandy soil

Lawn Care and Maintenance In Parkersburg

• Mow your lawn with a sharp blade at least once, every week.
• Fertilize your plants with adequate organic matter.
• Handle dry spots promptly.  Water the whole area of the lawn evenly.
• Do not water the plants at night.

Knowing how to choose a lawn care company that suits the needs of you and your lawn will save you time, money, and hassle throughout the growing season.  There are some tips to selecting a company that you will be happy with in the long term.  Here’s how to choose a lawn care company that works for you.

Evaluate your Needs

In order to feel confident that you are selecting a company that can fulfill your lawn care needs, you need to first identify those needs.  For example, do you need someone to mow and trim once a week, or only to fertilize and apply pre emergence herbicide?  Do you have a large yard or a small yard?  Do you need help with your landscape beds, or strictly a “mow, blow and go” operation to take care of the grass?  Do you require a company that can prune large trees?  Do you want people to help with seasonal landscape maintenance?  Do you have an irrigation system that needs frequent programming and maintenance?

Every lawn care company is different.  Some will be able to address all of the needs mentioned above, while others may specialize in some areas over others.  Make sure you know exactly which services you will need on a regular basis to find a company that works best for you.

Get Recommendations and Read Reviews

People review almost everything online these days.  If the landscape or lawn care company you are considering is a large one, you can probably find several different reviews of the company online.  Other areas to check are the chamber of commerce, local better business bureau, and with neighbors.  If you have admired the lawn of someone in your neighborhood, the next time you pass by and see them outside, ask them who does their lawn care.  If they do it themselves, they’ll be flattered.  If they have a service, they will be happy to refer you.

It is a good idea to take reviews with a grain of salt, however.  Many people will only write a public review if they are upset.  Asking the company to see their portfolio or for references will give you the most balanced perspective.

Ask for a Quote in Writing

When you have identified companies that have provide the services you need, type out your lawn care needs and ask for a quote from several providers.  This will help you compare prices, and will also give you a good idea about their professionalism, response time, and customer service.  In addition to service prices, find out what type of notice they provide before doing quarterly services, and what services they might recommend that you did not include in your specs, and why they would recommend those services.  Invite each company to send a representative out to evaluate your individual situation.  A reputable company will be willing to pay you a visit in order to gain you as a customer.

Engage in a Trial Relationship

If possible, sign a contract for no more than one year at a time.  That will allow you to see whether the company can deliver what you need in terms of lawn and garden care.  Touch base with a manager or supervisor periodically throughout your contract year to discuss the progress with your lawn.  If you are happy with the service, be sure to retain the company for the next year at the beginning of contract renewal to secure your spot!

Knowing how to choose a lawn care company that works for you and your family’s lifestyle can save you a lot of time and hassle throughout the summer-leaving you with more time to relax and enjoy your lawn and garden.

There are several steps a homeowner can take to controll lawn moss.

Lawn moss is a problem that plagues areas where grass is not happy growing.  There are several conditions that can cause lawn moss to take over:

• low soil fertility
• compaction
• excess moisture
• shade
• acidity
• shallow soil depth
• poor drainage
• drought
• disease

So, while there are commercial products to get rid of lawn moss, it is better to treat the conditions that allowed the moss to establish in the first place.  You will be much more successful at eradicating the moss if you make conditions more favorable for grass.  There are some areas where grass will not grow, and in those areas, moss is not a bad alternative.  It is green and you don’t have to mow it.  However, if you have a moss outbreak in an area that gets plenty of sun and could, potentially, be brought back into the lawn, here is how to resuscitate your lawn.

Aerate the lawn when conditions are favorable.  Compaction is one of the major factors limiting turf growth.  Aerate and top-dress with compost to increase air circulation and improve drainage in the lawn.

Get a soil test so that you can see if the fertility of the lawn could be a factor in encouraging moss growth.  If nitrogen is low, add some fertilizer or compost to the soil.  The soil test will also tell you if the pH of the soil is too low, or acidic.  If this is the case, you can add lime to the soil to raise the pH.

Evaluate the sunlight in the area that has moss growth.  If it is very shady, try overseeding with a more shad-tolerant grass type.  If that won’t work, you might want to try a shade garden or a groundcover that grows well in shade, instead.

Dig into the soil to test its depth. If the soil is less than four to five inches deep, it might not be deep enough to sustain healthy turf.  In that case, if you want to have a lush lawn, you’re going to need to add topsoil.

Observe the moisture level in the area of the yard with moss.  Too much moisture, or poor drainage, can lead to moss growth.  Most mosses like it wet, and most lawn grasses or turf grasses like a more even, well-drained soil.  If you need to improve drainage in an area, you can try aerating and adding compost.  Compost is like duct tape.  It cures many woes in the soil.

Consider pruning overhanging tree limbs. If light is a factor, pruning the canopy above the moss-inflicted area can increase air circulation and let more light into the area, which would make conditions more favorable for grass.

Controlling lawn moss is as much a function of lawn maintenance and conditions than anything else.  While you can stop the spread with chemical control, it is better to try to correct the underlying cause of the moss.  Correcting the conditions provides the best long-term solution for controlling lawn moss.

We do not advise that mowing wet grass is a  good idea, but sometimes it cannot be helped.  If you’ve been out of town, or it has been raining non-stop, or you have a party coming up and you have to mow before the big event, there are some techniques that can make the mowing easier, and keep your lawn healthy.

Reasons Not to Mow Wet Grass

Before we get to the techniques to help mowing wet grass less harmful for the grass, here are some reasons why you want to try to avoid mowing wet grass.

• Disease spreads quickly when the grass is wet.  Fungi and bacteria love nothing more than water for moving around.
• Your mower can get clogged.  This can have a number of consequences, including a part breaking and/or injuring you.
• You can compact the soil.  If it is really wet outside and has been raining for a while, the soil may be especially prone to compaction.

If You Must Mow Wet Grass

There are some tips and techniques that can help you do it safely-for your sake and the sake of the grass.  Here are some tips for mowing wet grass:

• Mow high.  This will allow you to remove less wet grass, and to avoid scalping or further damaging the grass.
• Make sure that the mower blades are sharp before mowing.
• Instead of mulching or bagging, use the side discharge on the mower, if possible.
• Mow again later in the day or the next day, which will help break up any grass clumps and allow you to reduce the grass height a little more.
• If the blades become clogged, let the mower die before you clean off the blades.  NEVER clean a mower that is still running.  That is a recipe for disaster-for you and the mower.
• Run the mower blade at a slower speed to reduce the strain on it.

Wet Grass Myths

There is a lot of information and mis-information floating around out there on the internet.  There are a few “wet grass myths” that we need to clear up here so that you do not harm your lawn if you have to mow it while it is wet.

• Don’t mow with a push and pull motion.  Rotary mowers are not made to cut when you are gowing backwards.  In addition to dulling the blade, you can also slip and fall and injure yourself.
• Don’t bag your clippings if you can help it.  Wet grass is heavy, and this tip is as much to save your back as it is to save the condition of your mower.  You can let the clippings blow out the side of the mower, and then go back and rake them up or chop them up after they dry.
• Don’t spray your mower blades with synthetic motor oil.  It is never a good idea to put oil on your lawn unless you want to kill the grass.

If possible, it is always better for the lawn for you to wait until the grass has dried before mowing.  You can mow wet grass, just keep the above tips in mind.

Even though it can be hard work, planting a new lawn is a rewarding process. Follow our step by step procedure for planting a lawn to get it right the first time!

Few things are as exciting for a homeowner than planting a new lawn.  With a bit of grass seed or a few pallets of sod, a lush, new outdoor carpet awaits.  There is more to installing a new lawn than throwing down some sod or planting grass seed, though.  A little bit of planning goes a long way toward growing a healthy lawn.

Step One:  Seed or Sod

Before you can begin the rest of your planning, you need to decide if you are going to plant grass seed or lay sod.  The preparation for both is somewhat similar, but the maintenance and time for establishment is different for each.  A seeded lawn takes longer to establish, but is less expensive than sod.  Sod must be carefully maintained during the first month after installation to maintain even growth.  It is difficult to repair sod that dies in patches.  It is much easier to overseed a seeded lawn if some areas do not germinate well.

Step Two:  Prepare the Soil

Whether you are planting a grass seed lawn or laying a sod lawn, the number one factor in long-term success is the preparation beforehand.  Sod has been carefully tended on a sod farm, growing in the best soil with the exact amount of water and food needed to set good roots.  Moving sod from the sod farm to an unprepared base more or less spells instant death for the grass.  Likewise for grass seed.  If there is one single thing you can do to increase the success of your newly established lawn, it is to properly prepare the soil.  Here’s what you need to do:

• First, kill any perennial weeds.  If you are installing a lawn in a particularly weedy area, you may need to go through a few cycles of turning the soil over, letting the weeds germinate and then killing them to reduce the weed seed bank.
• Prepare soil amendments and till them into the soil.  The best soil for grass is sandy loam.  That means a soil that has some sand and some organic matter.  If the soil is all sand, or a very hard clay, you will want to till in a compost/topsoil mix to improve the soil structure and fertility.  It is important to incorporate the elements into the existing soil.  If you simply lay new soil on top of old soil, you can cause a drainage problem because water will not move well from one layer to the next—it could drain too fast or too slowly.

Step Three:  Install the Sod or Plant the Grass Seed

• When installing sod, it is important to stagger the strips so that your lawn does not look like a checkerboard.  Lay the two pieces of sod down, end to end, with about an inch or two of overlap on each end.  Then push the ends together and down to the ground.
• Grass seed can be sown directly on top of the soil.  To keep the seed moist, straw can be spread on top of the seed.  Do not use hay or straw with seed heads, as you will run the risk of incorporating weeds into your new lawn.

Step Four:  Maintain the New Lawn

• With seed and sod, it is important to keep foot traffic off the lawn until it is established.  Sod needs about 3-4 weeks to establish.  A lawn planted with grass seed needs at least two months before any foot traffic is allowed, and up to four months before it can withstand heavy foot traffic.
• After the lawn is established, apply a granular pre emergence herbicide to keep weeds from sprouting in the new lawn.  Do NOT apply this herbicide at the time of planting, as it will interfere with establishment.
• Begin a routine watering maintenance program.

Next, enjoy your newly planted lawn.  You deserve it!

Compacted soil makes it harder for you lawn to recieve all the necessary nutrients and water.

Soil compaction is a potentially deadly problem for lawn grass.  Compaction is a factor in every type of soil, though some types are more prone to compaction problems than others.  There are some routine lawn maintenance activities that will help you alleviate soil compaction and keep your grass growing strong.

Why is Soil Compaction a Problem?

Soil contains many different elements, including air, water, mineral particles, organic matter, insects, worms, nutrient particles and other elements.  Each of these elements work together like finely calibrated parts of a machine to grow healthy plants.  Whenever one of the elements is out of balance, the entire function of soil is disrupted, thus impacting the health of plants growing in the soil.  Compaction of soil is just like compaction of anything else-a literal “squashing” of the soil particles together.  When soil particles are compacted together, the structure is impacted.  Soil structure determines how much space is available for air and water movement in the soil.  Compaction removes spaces for air and water, making both less available for plants.

How can you tell if Soil is Compacted?

A very easy way to tell if your soil is compacted is if it is hard.  Soil that is not compacted will have a springy feel.  Compacted soil is not springy. If it is difficult to put a shovel into the soil, it is probably compacted.  Lawn grass does not grow well in compacted soil, and weeds out-compete and thrive.  Areas with a lot of weed problems are likely compacted.  Lastly, if the soil is in an area with heavy foot or vehicle traffic, it is undoubtedly compacted.

How to Alleviate Soil Compaction

Though soil compaction is a serious problem, the methods to alleviate soil compaction are fairly straightforward, and involve aerating and top-dressing with light compost or organic matter.  Here’s how to do it:

• Mow the lawn about 1/3 shorter than you would normally mow.
• Water the lawn deeply at least twice, a few days before aerating.
• Aerate with a punch core aerator (not a spike aerator).
  • This part of soil compaction alleviation is best done by a professional. Professional lawn maintenance companies are more likely to have a punch core aerator in good working condition, and have the skills and strength to work with it.
• Top-dress with a lightweight compost and rake it into the lawn.
• Continue to water and mow as normal.

When you follow these steps to aerate, you will add organic matter into the soil and encourage growth and activity of insects and invertebrates that will further break down and improve soil structure.  Once you have alleviated soil compaction problems, your lawn will be healthier, include fewer weeds, and will require less maintenance in the long run.

Making sure your lawn receives the proper nutrients is an important part of lawn care.

A key component of lawn care is providing the lawn with the nutrients it needs to grow.  Each nutrient is involved in different plant processes.  Nutrients are loosely grouped into two categories:  Macronutrients and micronutrients.  The nutrients listed under Macronutrients are almost always in lawn fertilizers.  Potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur are sometimes categorized as macronutrients, and other times as micro-nutrients.  Each has its specific function in plant growth and development.

Macronutrients

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• Potassium

Micronutrients

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sulfur
• Iron
• Manganese
• Copper
• Zinc
• Boron

Lawn Fertilizer Analysis

Most lawn fertilizers contain the macronutrients, or what you could call “the big three:” Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K).  The fertilizer bags have their N-P-K analysis, or numbers that tell consumers how much of each nutrients is in the fertilizer, by percentage.  This can also tell you how many pounds of active ingredient are in each type of fertilizer.  For example, a 10-10-10 fertilizer has the same percentage of each ingredient.  100 lbs of the fertilizer would have 10 lbs of each active ingredient.  Here’s what each of the “big three” do for plants:

Nitrogen:  The basis of all protein and DNA.  Used mostly for growth.  Nitrogen application is said to “green up the grass” because it is incorporated into the leaf tissue.

Phosphorous:  This nutrient plays an integral part in photosynthesis, energy transfer and flower/fruit growth.  Plants without enough phosphorous do not produce many fruits, and their seeds can be deformed or not fully formed.

Potassium:  Many processes within the plant use potassium.  Sugar movement, cell division, root development and water retention all require potassium.

Micronutrients are just as Important

Even though most fertilizers contain only Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium, the micronutrients are just as important for healthy plant growth, and lawn grass will show the affects of an imbalance, or too little of any of these nutrients.

Calcium:  Plants without enough calcium have thick, woody stems and poor root development.  Lack of calcium can give the grass a yellowish hue.  The ratio of calcium to magnesium must be 7:1 for proper plant growth.

Magnesium:  Chlorophyll is partially made of magnesium, and needs this nutrient to function.  Too much Potassium in the soil can prevent magnesium from being present in the soil in a form that is available to plants.

Sulfur:  proteins have sulfur components in them.  Peppers, onions, cherries and plums need plenty of sulfur to bloom and produce good fruit set.  Many lawn grass fertilizers have a sulfur component.

Iron:  Iron uptake is affected by the amount and form of manganese.  Iron can bond tightly with soil particles.  Addition of a light layer of compost raked into the grass can re-introduce iron into lawns where it is deficient.

Manganese:  Plants require manganese to oxidize enzymes.  Acid soils (lower pH) tend to make more manganese available than alkaline (high pH) soils.

Copper:  Copper is a catalyst for specific enzymes within plants.  Many plant growth processes rely on sufficient copper.

Zinc:  Protein and starch building processes require zinc.  Too much Phosphorous in a lawn can bind up Zinc and make it unavailable to plants.

Boron:  Flowering, fruit and seed formation are affected by boron.

Identifying Specific Lawn Nutrient Needs

Before applying fertilizer to the lawn, it is always a good idea to have a soil test done.  You can pick up soil test boxes at your local cooperative extension office, along with instructions about how to collect a representative sample and prepare it for testing.  Fertilizer is expensive, and over-use of nutrients can cause pollution.  Getting a soil test will ensure that you are supplying your lawn with the right nutrients in the right amounts for healthy growth.

Source: http://www.mayberrys.com

Homeowners can choose from a dizzying array of push mowers, including the Toro Recycler lawn mowers.  There are several different models of the Toro Recycler, but even the basic models are chock full of features that help make lawn care easier.  Here’s a rundown of the benefits of the Toro Recycler lawn mowers.

Features

The Toro Recycler mowers have many features that make lawn mowing easy.  The Personal Space self-propel system senses walking speed and automatically adjusts.  Some models have an electric key-start, but the pull-start is easy to use, as well.  These mowers have recessed front wheels, which allows you to cut closer to hardscape, eliminating time spent with the trimmer.  The best feature of the Toro Recycler, and hence its name, is its 22 inch deck, and mulching blade system.  These blades chop up grass pieces to fine bits, so that they break down quickly, returning nitrogen to the soil as a form of natural fertilizer.

Price

The features included in the Toro Recycler mowers would make them a bargain at a much higher price point than where they are generally priced.  These are by far not the cheapest mowers available, and are generally priced between $250-$450. Most mowers come with a two or three year warranty on the various parts and mechanics.

Value for Price

These mowers are a superb value for the money. Each level of model is equipped with more features than the model below, adding to the functionality and convenience of the mower.  Several features, such as the power of the mulching blades and the recessed wheels are not standard on other mowers at the same price point.  These mowers are a great value for the price.

Ease of Maintenance

One of the best aspects of these mowers is the quick washout port that allows you to run water around the mower blades to clean them off without needing to turn the mower upside-down.

Ease of use

Each feature of the Toro Recycler mower is designed to make mowing easier for the homeowner.  The recessed wheels, self propel system, easy start and powerful engine help this mower do the work so that the homeowner doesn’t have to.

Source: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu

Plants need balanced nutrition to thrive, just like people.  One of the important nutrients for plant growth and development is Potassium (K), which is a component of most standard lawn fertilizers.  To use Potassium fertilizers correctly, it is important to understand how Potassium functions in plants, and how to recognize the signs of Potassium deficiency.

Potassium in Fertilizer

Potassium is one of the “big three” nutrients found in most lawn fertilizers.  Most fertilizer analysis gives the N-P-K number, which indicates what percentage of each nutrient is in the fertilizer.  The percentage of Potassium is indicated by the last number in the N-P-K analysis.

Potassium Function in Plants

Potassium is integral to many growth processes in plants, including:

• Photosynthesis
• Starch and protein production
• Enzyme reactions
• Water movement
• Protein synthesis
• Cell wall components
• Fruit development

Recognizing Potassium Deficiencies

(See above picture.)

Potassium deficiency is a serious problem for all plants, because it is involved in so many different plant processes.  Plants experiencing potassium deficiencies will show the following symptoms:

• Yellowing and curling of edges of lower (older) leaves
• Sometimes leaves will turn purple
• More likely to occur in times of drought stress
• Leaf edges looked burned

There are a number of things that can cause potassium deficiency.  Sandy soils tend to be more deficient in potassium, because it is leached easily from soils that do not have a high CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity).  Adding organic matter to the soil can help in potassium retention.  Soils with a low pH (acidic soils) sometimes have enough Potassium, but it is not available to plants.  It is important to test the soil pH to see if the potassium is there, but not available.

Correct Application of Fertilizers

Many soils are deficient in Potassium, but it is always a good idea to look at the soil test before adding any fertilizer.  Flowers, fruits and vegetables need more potassium fertilizers during flowering and fruiting.  General lawn fertilizers will usually have a balanced analysis, and will have enough Potassium for the average lawn, unless the soil is severely depleted or the pH is off.  Apply potassium fertilizers that are balanced with Nitrogen and Phosphorous, and your soil will receive its necessary requirements to support plant growth.

Red fescue grass is tolerant of harsh conditions.

Red fescue grass is one of the most versatile, hardy turf grasses for northern, cool climates.  It is drought tolerant, shade tolerant, and grows in poor soils.  This grass type grows best under challenging conditions, which makes it a perfect choice for many neighborhood lawns.  For people looking to add a hardy grass species to a blended lawn, red fescue is a great choice.

Characteristics of Red Fescue Grass

The red fescue grass species is native to North America.  It is a clumping grass, which forms a turf as each clump grows larger and larger.  Most red fescues used for lawns are actually called “creeping red fescue” and are cultivars, varieties or hybrids that have been crossed with other fescues that form more of a running habit, sending out stolons, or above ground stems.  This makes it a better turf grass, as it provides coverage faster from seeds.  The grass blade is very fine and deep green in color.  It is one of the finest textured of all turf grasses.

Habitat

These grasses do best in cooler, dry, northern climates.  They do not like overly rich or fertile soils.  In warmer, southern areas, red fescue can be used to overseed during the cooler winter months.  This turf grows equally well in the sun or shade, including dry shade.  There are few grasses that grow well in dry shade, making this grass a help to homeowners and landscapers, alike.

Seasonal Care

This grass type grows best when mowed at the height of three to four inches.  For people interested in having a no-mow lawn, red fescue is a great choice.  It will grow to a height of 8-12 inches if left to grow.  It requires very little supplementary water or fertilizer, which makes it an environmentally friendly lawn grass type.  In fact, it is best to not fertilize this type of grass with anything other than a light top-dressing of compost, as over-fertilizing can actually kill the grass.  Red fescue will go dormant during hot weather.

Turf Blends

Because of its versatility, this type of grass is also good to blend with other grass seeds to create a turf mix.  It is often mixed with bluegrass and ryegrass.  Because of the clumping habit of the straight species, it is best to plant a cultivar of red fescue grass.  These are the most commonly available and popular cultivars are: Lustrous, Pernille, Evergreen, and Boreal.

Red fescues are a good choice for homeowners in cool northern climates.

Grass root rot is a term referring to a group of fungal problems affecting grass plant roots.  Because the roots perform so many functions for plants, if something affects the health of the roots, the overall plant will be affected.  If something affects the roots, you will see the symptoms show up in the tops of the plants, but root rot symptoms can look deceptively like symptoms of other plant problems.  To prevent, diagnose and treat this plant problem if it occurs, it is essential to learn how to care for the lawn to avoid root rot, recognize the symptoms and alleviate the symptoms if it occurs.

The Difference Between Root Rot Problems of Grass and Other Plants

There are many different fungal diseases that attack plants.  Some attack the roots, and others attack the leaves.  Many of these diseases are called “root rot,” but they are not all the same problems that affect lawn grass species and cultivars.  Most people have heard of the Pythium fungus.  That fungus primarily affects greenhouse crops, but causes many of the same symptoms that “take all root rot,” which affects turf grasses, causes.  Another commonly known plant root fungus is Phytophthora. That fungus also primarily affects trees, shrubs and perennials.  The “take all root rot” fungus is actually: Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis.  It primarily affects warm season grasses such as St. Augustine Grass and Bermudagrass.

http://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5077090

Root Rot Symptoms

Because the roots of the plant are affected first, it is difficult to recognize the symptoms in time to save the grass plants that are severely affected.  It is possible to learn how to identify this problem before it kills an entire lawn.  In terms of identifying the symptoms of root rot from the top down, you will have your work cut out for you.  The grass blades will generally look yellowish.  However, unlike grass plagued by other diseases, when you pull on the leaves of grasses affected by this fungus, the leaves will stay attached to the stolons, or stems, of the grass. When you dig down a bit into the root zone, you will see that the roots have turned brown, and that there are not many hair-like roots.  The larger roots turn black, and are short and stunted.  In advanced cases of this fungus, you will see the hyphae, or hair-like fungal structures around the top junction of the grass stem and the grass roots.

Controlling Root Rot Fungus

The first step to preventing this problem from getting out of control is by taking proper care of the turf.  Mowing to the right height for your grass species, watering at the right time and the right amount, and not applying excess nitrogen fertilizer are all lawn care techniques that will help keep this problem at bay.  Once you have positively identified this fungus as a problem in the lawn, you need to immediately look at your lawn care methods and adjust them if necessary.  Fungal problems are extremely difficult to control with methods other than cultural control.  There are some fungicides that, when applied properly, can make a difference.

If there is an extremely bad problem, soil and lawn replacement is the only way to completely eradicate the fungus, but that is a drastic measure.  As with all pest populations, grass root rot will eventually burn itself out, but can kill your entire lawn in the process. It depends upon your tolerance for brown grass, what your eventual treatment course of action is.  The best way to prevent, and then treat grass root rot is to take proper care of the lawn, and be observant to catch problems early.

It is important to choose the appropriate soil for your grass type.

Lawn care is made easier with a full understanding of soil types, soil conservation practices and soil classification. 

Topsoil conservation is a chief concern in areas with lots of residential or industrial development.  If you live in a new house or a recently developed neighborhood, chances are great that the good topsoil that was once on your house lot is now gone, scraped away and sold by the developer.  You have to determine what is left, and how to conserve good soil and improve less than desirable soil.

Soil classification is an important first step to building a lawn. Without properly identifying the type of soil your lawn contains or if the soil has any problems, a newly planted lawn may have trouble getting off to a healthy start.

What is in Soil?

• Pebbles and rocks
• Air
• Water
• Mineral particles (large and small)
• Nutrients dissolved in water, and nutrients bonded to soil particles
• Organic matter (twigs, leaves and other un-decomposed items)
• Humus (completely composted organic matter)
• Bacteria, fungi, insects, worms, animals and other living things

Soil Structure

The soil structure is partially affected by the types of particles in it.  A sandy soil will be loose, with lots of large air spaces in between particles.  Silty soil will also be loose, but it’s particles are smaller, so these soils have smaller pores (spaces for air or water).  Clay soil can become highly compacted.  You can tell if your soil is compacted by pouring water onto it.  If it splashes right off, and does not soak in, your soil is compacted.  You can remedy this by aerating the soil, or forking it up with a four pronged, short-handled garden fork.  The fork pictured, right, is the right type of fork to aerate your soil.  (Not your lawn!)  Simply stick the fork into the ground and use your feet to push the fork at an angle closer to the ground, lifting the soil.

Soil Texture

Your success with lawn care relies upon understanding your soil.  That will help you identify what things need to be added to the soil to make it more hospitable to plants and to beneficial organisms living in the soil.

Soil Classification

Soils are classified by the amount of sand, silt and clay in the soil.  (Sand, Silt and Clay are soil particles that have different properties.)  There are entire contests devoted to correctly identifying the official “soil type.”  Soil types include:

• Clay
• Sandy Clay Loam
• Loam
• Silty Clay Loam
• Sand
• Sandy Loam or Silty Loam
• Silt

It is not necessarily important to know exactly what your soil type is.  It is more helpful to be able to identify whether your soil has a high concentration of one of the three types of particle sizes.  Here is what to look for:

Sandy Soils

• Easy to cultivate
• Does not form clods or clumps
• Warms quickly in spring
• Feels gritty
• Moderate risk of soil erosion

Silty Soils

• Not as easy to dig when wet
• Very dusty if dry
• Moderate to high levels of organic matter
• Difficult to correct soil pH if out of line
• High erosion risk from wind and water
• Feels silky and smooth

Clay Soils

• Cannot dig easily when wet or dry
• Cannot cultivate while wet, at the risk of extreme compaction
• Soil is sticky
• Low risk of erosion

The best soil feels like pie crust before rolling it out when you push it between your thumb and your hand.  If your soil feels out of balance-too much clay or sand, the best way to improve it is to add organic matter.  Organic matter to soil is like spinach to people:  it cures almost all soil ailments.  Organic matter improves drainage, and water retention.  Healthy lawns start with healthy soil.  Understanding different types of soil classification can help with soil conservation efforts and overall lawn care.

Organic lawn care is an enviornmentally friendly approach to lawn care.

Organic lawn care is a good start toward contributing positively toward the ecosystem in your yard.  Each year, billions of dollars are spent on chemicals and pesticides for lawn care-to keep the more than 30 million acres of turf blanketing the United States healthy.  You might be thinking, “Why would I want to take care of my lawn using organic methods?” or “Is there such a thing as organic lawn care?”  Yes!  You can and should practice organic lawn care methods! It is easier and less expensive than you might think.  The best part about it is that a lawn maintained with organic methods is much healthier in the long run.  Organically grown lawns:

• Withstand drought more easily
• Are less susceptible to pest and disease problems
• Can be enjoyed, barefoot, at all times of the year by people and pets without worry about getting sick

Transitioning your Lawn to Organic Lawn Care

Planting a new lawn using organic methods and transitioning an existing lawn to organic care are two completely different processes.  Because most people will be starting with an existing lawn (uniform turf, or a blend of different turf and weeds), we’ll explain how to transition your existing lawn.  One of the best resources for organic lawn care principles is the book The Organic Lawn Care Manual, by Paul Tukey.   Here are his twelve steps for transitioning your lawn to organic methods.

1.       Test your soil

2.       Aerate and de-thatch the lawn

3.       Survey the weeds growing in the lawn, and add soil amendments to make conditions more favorable for grass and less favorable for weeds.

4.       Top-dress the lawn with about ½ inch of fine compost at least once a year

5.       Spray with compost tea three times a year

6.       Mow the lawn to the maximum height for your grass cultivar, and do not every remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade in any single mowing.

7.       “Grasscycle” or leave grass clippings on the lawn to add nitrogen back into the lawn

8.       Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth.

9.       Overseed with the right grass seed in the spring or fall to thicken up turf

10.   Add white clover to your grass seed mix to add nitrogen to the soil

11.   Add nitrogen as needed, depending upon the results of your soil test

12.   Make sure (via soil test) that the calcium level in the soil is seven times higher than the magnesium levels, to ensure that both nutrients are available in the right form for plants to take up.

Dealing with Weeds

Any organic lawn care program must be organized to treat weeds.  As you transition your lawn to organic methods, you will need to take a three pronged approach to removing weeds and prohibiting their growth.  Good lawn care goes a long way toward preventing weed growth-proper pH, good watering and mowing practices and avoiding over-feeding of nitrogen helps.  When it comes to flat-out weed removal, there are a few techniques to learn and practice.  Here’s what you can do to remove weeds and prohibit growth of new weeds in your lawn.

1.       Dig up the big weeds.  The only way to completely remove the largest weeds from the lawn is to dig them up.  If you are truly serious about a weed-free, organically maintained lawn, you need to eradicate the big weeds with taproots, and the best and easiest way to do that is by digging.

2.       Do not let existing weeds go to seed.  Prevent weeds in the lawn from re-producing, and your battle against weeds gets easier.  You can prevent existing weeds from spreading seeds by keeping the grass mown frequently, at the proper height.

3.       Use corn gluten as a pre emergence herbicide to keep weed seeds that do make it into the lawn from sprouting.

For a comprehensive look at organic lawn care, check out Paul Tukey’s book.  These are just a few basics about organic lawn care to let you know that it can be done, and to help you transition your practices from using synthetics to organics.

Being able to identify the cause of your lawn problems is an important part of maintaining a healthy lawn.

Identifying lawn problems, and correctly treating them before they spiral out of control is a fundamental aspect of good lawn care.  Here are some of the most common lawn care problems, and ways to identify and resolve them.

• Not enough water. The lawn will have a bluish, grayish cast to it. The individual grass leaves will be rolling in on themselves, and if you walk across the lawn the grass will not spring back, but, instead, your footprints will remain visible. Remedy this problem by giving the lawn at least an inch of water. (Put a straight-sided container in the path of the sprinkler. When it has one inch of water in it, your work is done.)
• Too much water. Too much water can appear in a lot of different ways. The lawn might turn yellow, from lack of oxygen, or because nutrients have leached out of the lawn. Soils with heavy clay, poor drainage, or a location at the bottom of a slope are prone to poor drainage. You can improve soil structure, and water movement in the soil by adding compost to the lawn.
• Moles or voles. Moles and voles are different animals, with different diets, but they both damage the lawn by tunneling or making runways through the lawn. They also dig holes to get underground. Moles and voles are difficult to eliminate-particularly moles. Moles eat insects, such as grubs. If you have a grub problem, you have to eliminate that to make the moles go away. The best way to get rid of voles? Get an outdoor cat.
• Grubs. You can most often tell if you have grubs if you have moles in your yard. The term “grub” is a general term referring to the larval form of many different insects. Japanese beetles are one destructive pest that begins life as a grub. The most effective way to rid the lawn of grubs is to treat with milky spore, a beneficial bacteria. One application can last for up to ten years. Milky spore is available at most lawn and garden centers.
• Imbalanced pH. The pH of the soil affects many different aspects of soil and lawn health, one of which is nutrient uptake. Often, the first sign that pH is off is symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in plants. To determine your soil pH, get a professional soil test done. Then, you can raise the pH by adding lime or lower the pH by adding sulfur. You should do neither without a soil test, as you could be wasting money or harming your plants.
• Fairy ring fungus. There are several different fungal problems that create brown patches in the lawn. The fairy ring is one of the most difficult to treat. As it grows, the underground structures of the fungus fill the soil to the point where the structure breaks down, it becomes compacted, cannot hold air or water and causes death of the grass living above. The problem is not really with the plant, but with the soil. To rid the lawn of this fungus, you almost have to completely dig up, discard and replace the soil where the fungus has taken hold. You can also aerate frequently, top-dress with compost, and water heavily to restore the grass to health. If you aerate a fungus infested area of the grass, always disinfect the tools before moving to another area so that you do not spread the fungus around.

There are many lawn problems that can plague a conscientious homeowner, some of which are easily corrected by adjusting maintenance practices.  The above problems are more often caused by outside influences, and trickier to diagnose and treat.  Identifying lawn problems is the first step of defense in growing a beautiful lawn.

Edging your lawn using a lawn edger will give your lawn a professional look.

Give your lawn a Clean Trim with a Lawn Edger

Have you ever driven by a home and noticed the immaculate lawn before anything else? A home with curb appeal doesn’t have to be a mansion worth millions. Instead, curb appeal is easy to attain, both physically and financially. By investing a few hours of your time each month and purchasing some quality lawn care tools, such as a lawn edger, your lawn will be the first thing onlookers notice when they’re driving by your home.

What Is a Lawn Edger?

A lawn edger is an easy way to spruce up your lawn, as it effectively and neatly divides the lawn from a driveway, walkway or other cemented area. Lawn edgers are automatic or manual, as well as gas-powered or electric. The purpose of a lawn edger is to trim the lawn and clean the edges, creating a distinct separation between the pavement and the lawn. This simple act of lawn maintenance greatly improves the overall look of the home and yard, and gives it instant curb appeal.

While a freshly mowed lawn enhances the look of the lawn, mowing over the lawn’s border and onto paved surface often creates the unkempt appearance of overlapping grass. With the help of a lawn edger, however, the edges of your lawn will look perfectly trimmed.

Finding the Best Lawn Edger for Your Lawn

Finding a lawn edger that suits your budget and needs can seem somewhat overwhelming, as there are several lawn edgers from which to choose. Edging the lawn with a manual lawn edger can take much longer than using an automatic one, but it is less expensive. Rest assured that you don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of dollars on a lawn edger; ask a landscaping professional for a few good pointers.

If you don’t have time to do it yourself, a professional lawn service can edge your lawn for you. However, the cost of the service will likely depend on the size of your lawn, the area in which you live, and your requests. If you don’t enjoy working in the yard, or if you maintain a hectic schedule, you might benefit from hiring a landscaping professional to edge your lawn. Most-if not all-lawn services own lawn edgers (which means you don’t have to worry about buying a lawn edger yourself).

A lawn edger not only tidies up your lawn, but also trims bushes and plants; however, lawn edgers provide better vertical cuts, whereas string trimmers offer superior horizontal cuts. If you’re looking into purchasing a lawn edger, take into consideration the size of your lawn. An automatic edger would handle a large lawn much more efficiently than a manual one.

So if you want bystanders to admire your lawn immediately upon driving by your home, a lawn edger is an affordable and effective lawn tool for achieving a beautifully manicured lawn. Curb appeal isn’t just for the wealthy-it’s for anyone who has the desire to enhance the overall look of his or her property.

A spring vegetable garden is a great addition to any backyard.

There are some vegetables that you need to plant almost before you think you should plant anything.  If you wait too late to plant these vegetables, you will not get a full season of harvest from them.  Some will not even mature before it gets too hot.  Here are five early spring vegetables that you can start, from seed or transplants, outside before the danger of frost is past.

Peas

Peas can be planted when there is snow on the ground!  Peas do best when you plant them directly into the garden as seeds.  You can start planting them up to two months before the average frost free date.  Plant seeds close together, with only 2 to 4 inches between seeds.  Climbing varieties need a trellis.  They start producing later than bush varieties, but will produce longer.  Peas grow in conjunction with nitrogen fixing bacteria, so they do not need extra food.  It takes most peas about 60 days from planting to maturity.

Spinach

Spinach is one of the most nutritious vegetables you can grow and eat.  It contains some of almost every vitamin and mineral needed to stay healthy.  To be so nutritious, spinach needs a lot of food.  When possible, work compost into the soil before planting spinach in your spring vegetable garden.  You can “side dress” with a slow-release fertilizer or compost two to four weeks after planting.  Spinach is a little bit difficult to grow from seed; however, plants started from seed do much better and produce leaves longer before “bolting,” or sending up a flower stalk (which effectively ends their life as food plants).  You can begin direct seeding spinach in the garden four to six weeks before the average last frost date.  The seeds need to be barely covered with a light potting mix, and kept evenly moist during germination.

Beets

Beets are a vegetable that tastes much better when grown during cool weather.  When it begins to get hot outside, beet roots become tough and woody, and sometimes have a strange flavor.  For best-tasting beets, sow directly outside up to one month before the average last frost date.  Plants should be spaced three to four inches apart.  You can over-plant and harvest beet greens for salads, leaving others to mature.  Most beets will mature in 45-60 days.  After six weeks, scrape some soil away from the beets to see how large the roots are.  Do not let the beet roots grow larger than two inches across, for best flavor.

Carrots

Carrots are fun and frustrating to grow!  They take a long time to germinate, but must be kept evenly moist during germination.  Sometimes the combination of germination time and moisture requirements can cause a crust to form on the soil.  To keep this from happening, plant a row of radishes alongside the carrots.  The radishes will sprout quickly and keep the soil loose for the carrots.  Carrots like a very light, sandy soil.  Some people save specific sections of their gardens just for carrots, preparing the soil so that it has more sand than other areas of the garden.  If carrots grow in heavy soils, they will often split their roots and can form some unusual shapes.  You can sow carrot seeds directly into the garden up to one month before the average last frost date.  Because their germination can be spotty, plan to sow more seeds than you want finished plants, and thin as the first true leaves begin to appear.

Lettuce

Lettuce is relatively easy to grow, but can be a heavy feeder.  It likes soil with a pH of 6.5 or higher.  You can grow “heading lettuce” an leaf lettuce.  The heading varieties are more difficult to grow.  For home gardeners, leaf lettuce is easy to grow and will produce well.  If you live in a very hot climate, grow lettuce in partial shade.  You can plant lettuce directly in the garden up to six weeks before the average last frost date.  Lettuce seeds should be sprinkled on loose, rich soil, and covered just barely with a bit of light potting soil.  Keep the seeds evenly moist and watch them grow.  You can harvest as soon as there are enough leaves on the plant to sustain continued growth.

Planting an early spring vegetable garden is a treat after a long winter.  These vegetables will get your garden off to a great start, even as the weather has barely started to warm up.

Using manure as fertilizer is an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Manure application contributes to a cleaner environment & healthier lawn.

Perhaps we’ve all walked by and smelled the particular ‘smell’ of manure fertilizer. Try as fertilizer companies may, there are few ways to disguise the unpleasant smell of animal droppings. Nevertheless, there are several benefits to manure fertilizer, notwithstanding the stench, including its eco-friendly characteristics.

First and foremost, fresh manure of any kind should never be applied to your lawn; instead, make certain it is mixed with other organic materials (i.e. composted manure fertilizer). Containing potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients, manure application enhances the structure of the soil and its ability to retain moisture, as well as improves water infiltration and lawn aeration.

Perhaps the primary benefit of manure fertilizer is the amount of nitrogen it contains. As the manure begins to decompose, it gradually releases nitrogen into the soil. For the initial manure application, you should provide your lawn with all the nitrogen it needs. Every year thereafter, however, apply less and less manure fertilizer so the soil has a balanced amount of nitrogen over the years. Organic nitrogen actually carries over from the previous application, slowly releasing itself into the soil, which is why it’s best to apply less manure following the first treatment.

One drawback to manure application is the presence of weed seeds and its tendency to decompose in conditions where the soil is moist and warm.

Common Types of Manure Fertilizer

While manure fertilizer is advantageous to your lawn and soil, it’s important to know the qualities each animal brings, as they differ in some ways.

• Chicken Manure Fertilizer – Chicken manure is known for its incredibly rich contents and is ideal when composted before applying to the lawn. Referred to as ‘hot’ manure, chicken manure can burn (and destroy) plants.

• Cow Manure Fertilizer – Dairy cow manure is often favored over other types of fertilizer, as it is low in nutrients and can be applied in endless quantities with no detrimental side effects.

• Horse Manure Fertilizer – Although horse manure is not as nutrient-rich as manure from chickens, it contains more nitrogen than cow manure fertilizer. Also known as a ‘hot’ manure, horse manure fertilizer should be composted before application.

• Sheep Manure Fertilizer – Sheep manure is another ‘hot’ fertilizer that is fairly dry and incredibly rich in nutrients. Best when composted prior to application.

• Rabbit Manure Fertilizer – Rabbit manure provides a great deal of nitrogen (even more than manure from poultry) and phosphorous, which is highly beneficial for fruits and flowers.

If you’re still unsure of which manure fertilizer you should use, contact a professional lawn service for advice. These days, staying ‘green’-even when it comes to your lawn-is important, and manure application is yet another way to contribute to a healthier environment. Since a majority of farm animals eat plants, it’s no wonder their feces are beneficial to the lawn and the earth.

Edging is a great way to give your lawn that professional look.

Edging a lawn is a simple way to improve the look of your lawn & home.

If you’re looking for an easy way to tidy up your lawn, lawn edging is ideal. Intended to clearly separate the lawn from a paved surface like a walkway or driveway, lawn edging produces clean lines and gives your lawn a well-groomed look. If you’re thinking about edging a lawn, the following questions/answers will help you make your final decision.

Q: Does edging a lawn affect its health?

A: Lawn edging doesn’t harm your lawn, provided you edge properly. Oftentimes homeowners get ‘edge happy’ when edging their lawn; not only is this unattractive, but it can also damage areas of the lawn. Edging a lawn too closely results in uneven edges, and the lawn itself becomes taller than the edges. In this case, lawn edging can actually decrease your home’s curb appeal.

You should edge at the same height as the rest of your lawn. Additionally, make certain the lawn edger does not move into the grass itself, as it can take out chunks of the lawn and have an affect on its health. Otherwise, if executed properly, lawn edging is merely a cosmetic lawn procedure.

Q: Is there a proper way of lawn edging?

A: Lawn edging and trimming go hand-in-hand. When edging a lawn, you should ensure the blade is at an appropriate length. This will depend on the height at which you mow your lawn, so ask a lawn care professional if you’re uncertain of the proper blade length. Also, you should run the blade of the lawn edger in a straight line down the established edge in order to keep the edges looking tidy and flush.

Q: What type of lawn care equipment should I use for lawn edging?

A: Not only should you use quality equipment when you’re edging a lawn, but you must also wear protective gear. Lawn edgers can get quite expensive, which is why many homeowners opt to rent the equipment or hire a professional lawn care service to edge their lawn.

While manual lawn edgers exist, the most common types are electric and gas powered. The size of lawn edger you choose, as well as the amount of power it holds, depends on the size of your lawn, how often you plan to edge, and of course, your budget. Typically, lawn edging with an electric edger works better on a smaller lawn, whereas a larger lawn benefits from the force of a gas-powered edger. There are pros and cons to both types of edgers, however, so make sure you do your research before making a purchase.

Also, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying the cheapest lawn edger, but think about the importance of quality. While a less expensive edger may seem like the best choice, its lifespan may be short. Choosing a credible brand that is middle-of-the-road in terms of cost is your best bet if you’re carefully watching your budget.

Lawn edging is a cost-effective way to enhance the overall look of your home and lawn. With neat edges, clean lines and a tidy lawn, your home will look new and improved in no time.

Aerating your lawn in the spring time will help your lawn on the road to recovery from cold winter weather.

Early March is a great time to think about scheduling your lawn aerating service for spring.  Over the previous summer, the lawn will have been subjected to a lot of traffic, causing compaction.  Soil compaction leads to a variety of other problems, if not alleviated, so it is best to alleviate compaction as early as possible in the year.  Aerating will also take care of any thatch buildup problem your lawn might be suffering from.  A little bit of thatch is fine.  Too much thatch can lead to many of the same problems that soil compaction causes.

Why Spring for Aerating the Lawn?

Lawn aerating is helpful for the health of the grass, but it is also stressful because it disrupts the roots and the regular growing habit of the grass plant. Aerating in the spring, when the lawn is actively growing, gives the lawn a chance to recover more quickly than aerating during the summer or late fall when the lawn is not growing as quickly.  If you didn’t get a chance to aerate the lawn in the fall, the spring is, obviously, the next best choice! The spaces opened up by aeration will allow you to keep your lawn healthy all summer long.  Air, water and fertilizer will penetrate the soil more easily after aeration, ensuring an overall healthier lawn.

Prevent these Problems with Spring Aeration

Aerating can help correct certain problems in the lawn, and avoid others.  Take care of this garden task in the spring to avoid these problems:

• Fungal diseases. Aeration won’t completely eliminate these problems, but better air and water movement in the soil will reduce them.
• Thatch buildup. An inch or so of thatch is ok.  More than that, and you provide a home for fungal, bacterial and insect pests.
• Weeds. Weeds sprout when lawn grass is unhealthy and unable to out-grow or out-compete the weeds.  Overall improvement in health of the grass will keep weed problems to a minimum.

Steps for Successful Lawn Aerating

1. First, mow your lawn to about ½ of the normal mowing height.  For example, if you usually mow your lawn to a height of three inches, set the deck at 1 ½ inches.
2. Give the lawn at least one inch of water a couple of days in a row, a couple of days before you aerate.
3. Aerate using a punch-core aerator.  These actually remove little cores of soil.
4. After aeration, water to break up the cores of soil.
5. Top dress with a light layer of compost or lightweight topsoil.
6. Keep the lawn watered well-at least one inch a week-until it starts to fill in. Aerating is both helpful and stressful for the lawn, so good care after aeration is important.

You can hire a professional to complete your lawn aerating for you, or do it yourself.  It should be a priority at least once a year.

Image from http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2005/6-22/mildew.html

Learn all about Powdery Mildew Treatment & Prevention

Imagine a lawn that is covered in a powdery mildew fungus. Appalled? You should be. Powdery mildew on your lawn is not a pretty sight. There are some plants that are more prone to powdery mildew infection than others, such as begonias, lilacs, roses and African violets.

The amount of damage powdery mildew causes on your lawn depends on the plant(s) infected and the time of year. Some plants can survive this particular disease, whereas others require powdery mildew treatment in order to stay alive. For instance, most vegetables can withstand powdery mildew, but the flavor of some fruits is often affected.

Symptoms of Powdery Mildew

Easy to detect, powdery mildew emerges as dry, powder-like white spots on leaves and stems, many of which can be rubbed off with your fingers. Do not make the same mistake that many homeowners make by assuming the spots are merely dust. Although it first appears as individual spots, powdery mildew eventually blends together into a single body of fungus as it continues to grow.

Powdery mildew typically shows up later in the growing season and particularly thrives in high humidity or rainy weather conditions. Powdery mildew can stunt the growth of plants and grasses and, if left untreated, result in death of the foliage it infects.

Powdery Mildew Treatment

Although there are many fungicides available today, not all of them effectively treat powdery mildew; therefore, it’s important to read the directions carefully before applying. Fungicide should be applied immediately after you notice the first white spots. If you’re unsure of whether or not the fungicide will kill powdery mildew without killing your plants, contact your local lawn and garden store.

To prevent powdery mildew from damaging your plants, you can spray them with a baking soda formula once a week (both undersides and surfaces of leaves). When the leaf comes in contact with baking soda, its surface pH becomes incompatible with powdery mildew spores and thus, prevents it from forming altogether. What’s more, spraying plants with baking soda is natural and organic.

Baking Soda Spray

1 qt. water

1 tsp. baking soda
drops of liquid soap (a few will do)

Powdery Mildew Prevention

1.      If possible, plant shade-tolerant grasses and plant varieties that can resist powdery mildew growth.

2.      The morning is an ideal time to water your plants or grass for various reasons, including the prevention of powdery mildew. This allows them ample time to dry off throughout the day.

3.      Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers. Instead, use slow-release or organic fertilizers.

4.      Try to plant in areas that receive a great deal of sun (unless they do not thrive in areas of full sunlight).

5.      Give plants plenty of room to grow-overcrowding will encourage mildew.

LawnCare.Net brings you reliable lawn mower reviews so you can find the best mower for your lawn!

Buying a lawn mower is a large investment, one that you hope will pay off in the long run.  To help you make the best purchase for your lawn care needs, LawnCare.net offers comprehensive lawn mower reviews and lawn mower ratings for every type of lawn mower.  We have high standards, and have used the following criteria to create our lawn mower reviews:

• Features

• Price

• Value for Price

• Ease of maintenance

• Ease of use

Each of our lawn mower reviews will contain ratings about the above areas to help you find the best mower to suit your needs.  Here’s a little bit more about how we will rate each mower in each category.

Features

One of the most important parts of the overall value of a lawn mower is the features. Is the deck simple to raise and lower?  Can you add and remove attachments?  Does the mower include mulching blades or a bag?  Does the mower have a pull start or an electric start mechanism.  Is it gas or electric?  What are the warranties included?

Price

When you purchase a lawn mower, you hope that if you properly care for it, it will last a long time.  Sometimes price is an indication of quality, and sometimes it isn’t.  Our review system separates the expensive and effective mowers from the expensive and overpriced mowers.

Value for Price

When you consider the price of the lawn mower with the features, and factor in durability and ease of use, you have the value of the mower.  We look for mowers that perform well for their price.  Sometimes, you don’t need a top of the line model to get the job done. Other times, if you have a large area to mow, or a high profile space, you need a more powerful mower.  We’ll help you decide if a mower is worth the investment.

Ease of Maintenance

A lawn mower is only as good as the maintenance it receives.  Dull blades on a high performing mower will cut a ragged edge just like dull blades on an inexpensive, low level mower.  The availability for finding maintenance technicians for the mower, and a reliable supply of parts is key to keeping a lawn mower in top shape.  The easier the mower maintenance is, the more likely you are to maintain it.  In this way, ease of maintenance greatly contributes to the overall value of the mower.

Ease of Use

Do you have to spend three hours with an instructional manual, or is the mower designed so that it can be run intuitively?  As with ease of maintenance, ease of use goes a long way toward encouraging people to use their mowers regularly, and care for their lawns properly, all of which results in a cycle of proper lawn care and lawn mower care.

Tune in for our ongoing additions of lawn mower reviews and lawn mower ratings!

Lawn Mower Reviews:

• Snapper Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower
• The Lawn Boy 10795 Self-Propelled Mulching Mower
  
• Cub Cadet Model 11A-18MC
• Toro Recycler Lawn Mower
• Cub Cadet 2166 Riding Lawn Mower
  

The Lawn Boy 10795 self propelled mulching lawn mower has many great advantages and a few downsides.

If you’re looking for a walk-behind, self-propelled, tope of the line mulching mower, the Lawn Boy 10795 mower may be the right choice for you!

Features

This Lawn Boy mower model features a top of the line Honda engine, the Honda GCV 160 OHV/OHC engine.  Honda engines are known for their reliability and durability.  The Sens-a-Speed® Self-Propel System:  makes pushing the mower easy, as it adjusts to the operator’s walking speed. The deck is 21″, cast aluminum, and can be adjusted for a cutting height between 1″ and 4 ½”. Other features include the easy lift bag, and quick stow lever minimizes.  The mower comes standard with options for mulching, rear bag collection and side discharge of clippings.  Numerous features and accessories are available for adding on to this model.  Cruise control is one of the most attractive add-ons.  Large wheels, and a comfortable foam handle are the icing on the cake!

Price

This Lawn Boy mower is not the least expensive mower you can purchase.  In fact, it is top of the line, and top of the price line as well.  These mowers are priced from between $550 and $675, depending upon the retail establishment.  For that price, you do get a five year warranty, which makes maintenance costs less expensive.

Value for Price

If you need a high performance mower with all of the bells and whistles, you can’t go wrong with this Lawn Boy model.  It is pricey, but comes with all of the features needed to professionally care for your lawn in comfort and ease.  The mower isn’t just loaded with bells and whistles-each of the mower features is easy to use and contributes to the efficiency of its work.

Ease of Maintenance

Because Lawn Boy mowers are such popular brands, every major mower shop will be able to help maintain this mower.  Spare parts are easily found with the Lawn Boy website’s maintenance and repair directory that helps owners find the nearest repair shop to their home location.  Adjustment of the deck, and storage of the mower and bag are facilitated by easy to use levers that move the deck, release the bag, store the mower handle at a 90 degree angle, and allow the bag to hang from the handle during storage so that it can dry out.  The ease of working with the lawn mower ensures that the owner can always give proper care to each portion, extending its life.

Ease of use

All of the features included in the Lawn Boy 10795 mower make for an extremely easy to use, full-service, professional quality lawn mower.

Keeping your garden hand tools in optimal condition will make your gardening tasks much easier.

Learn how to sharpen your garden hand tools so that your gardening work is as easy as possible.  You are more likely to give good care to your plants if your tools are in the right shape for gardening.  You can sharpen gardening hand tools with a hand-held file, or with a grinder.  Below are some basics of sharpening and cleaning your tools.

Why Clean and Sharpen Garden Hand Tools?

The very simple answer is that your tools will last longer if you take proper care of them.  That means cleaning and sharpening.  Immediately after working with a tool, you can brush off the tool with a wire brush or other cleaning implement.  If you can store your tools in an area with good air circulation, you can use a pressure nozzle to wash off the blade.  Just make sure that it will dry quickly.  If tools sit in wet conditions, wood handles will swell and crack, and steel blades will rust. If you have used a tool to prune or cut a plant that produces a lot of sap (pine trees, dogwood trees, euphorbias), you will want to clean off the blade with a bit of solvent to remove anything gummy.  Once the tool is dry, wipe the tool blade with a thin coating of oil.  A mixture of motor oil and kerosene oil will prevent steel blades from rusting.

Garden Hand Tool Sharpening Implements

Pruners and shears with small blades can be sharpened with an oil stone.  There are also diamond stones and other honing stones that work well.  Clamp the hand tool blade in a vice and draw the sharpening stone in one direction, at a steady angle, against the angled edge of the tool.

Shovels, axes and other heavy-duty equipment can be easily sharpened with a file.  A half-round, ten inch long mill file will do the trick.  Again, it is easier to sharpen the tool if you can hold it steady in a vice.  Sharpen along the original, factory bevel for the tool, working the file in one direction across the surface.  These files only work on the “push” part of the motion.  Do not drag the file back and forth across the edge.  You will ruin the file and your tool.

If your tools are completely worn out, you may need to have a completely new edge ground into them.  Unless you have a bench grinder, and are experienced using it, it is easier and more cost-effective to take tools to a local hardware store for sharpening.

Storing Gardening Hand Tools

Proper cleaning and sharpening will keep hand tools in good working order for a long time. Storage conditions are another major factor in tool longevity.  You should always coat your tools, after they are clean, dry and sharpened, with a thin film of oil.  Fine Gardening magazine recommends this mixture: One quart nondetergent 30W motor oil and one pint of kerosene or lamp oil. You only want to apply a thin film-it should not drip off onto the floor.  You can also oil your tools by digging them into a bucket of oily sand, like brick laying sand, to coat them.

To keep your tools in the best condition, prepare a space in your tool shed or garage for each tool.  A peg, hook or shelf for each tool will help you find the tools when you need them, and also keep the tools from rubbing against each other or the floor and becoming dull.

Spring is a great time to sharpen gardening hand tools to prepare for the coming season. You will find, once you establish a routine, that you are much more interested in taking care of your lawn or garden, because you have tools in good condition.