LawnCare.net

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.

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.

Nitrogen is a nutrient that all types of grass need. If nitrogen levels are low try using nitrogen fertilizer to help you lawn return to a healthy state.

Grass is notorious for needing a lot of nitrogen fertilizer.  Nitrogen is a macronutrient that all plants need.  It is the basis for proteins in plants and animals, and is present in the chloroplasts, which are the molecules within plants that perform photosynthesis, making food for the plants.  If plants do not have enough nitrogen, they turn yellow, in part because the chloroplasts are not functioning properly. Some plants require more than others.  Most species of grass are what are called “heavy feeders” and require a lot of nitrogen.  You will often hear people say their lawn has “greened up” after an application of fertilizer.  After fertilization, the nitrogen levels in the plants are higher, including inside the chloroplasts, hence the greener color.

Forms of Nitrogen Fertilizers

Organic nitrogen is found in decaying plant and animal material.  This is why compost is a good addition to soil.  Commercially synthesized nitrogen generally includes either nitrate or ammonium.  In the form of nitrate, plants can quickly and easily absorb nitrogen, but it leaches, or is washed, from the soil quickly.  The ammonium form bonds tightly with soil particles, so it moves through the soil to plants more slowly.  To provide your lawn with the nitrogen it needs, use fertilizers that have both forms of nitrogen, or alternate applications of each type.

Organic forms of nitrogen are beneficial to the lawn, but take longer to break down and become available for plants.  Inorganic forms such as nitrate or ammonium are more quickly available to plants, but can be lost into the groundwater, causing pollution problems downstream, if not applied correctly.

When to use Nitrogen Fertilizer

“More is better” is not the name of the game when fertilizing a lawn.  To much of a good thing is not, in fact, a good thing, when it comes to fertilizer.  Over-fertilized plants produce soft, weak growth.  When more nitrogen (or any nutrient) is added to the soil than can bond with the soil, it will move through the soil, and can cause imbalances away from the site it was added.  Many factors affect the ability of plants to take in nutrients.  Weather, soil pH, plant type, and stage of growth all influence the way plants take in and use nutrients.

Each species of grass has different fertilizing requirements.  Usually, nitrogen fertilizer also includes phosphorous and potassium.  These formulations are called “N-P-K” fertilizers.  The ratio of each nutrient to the other is indicated by a number.  This is called the “fertilizer analysis.”  You could buy a 10-10-10 fertilizer, which has equal parts of each nutrient.  A 20-10-10 would have twice as much nitrogen as phosphorous and potassium.  The numbers also correspond to percentage by weight in the particular fertilizer.  A 10-10-10 fertilizer is made of 10% of each nutrient.  The additional 70% of ingredients are inert, or inactive.  A higher number corresponds to a larger amount of active ingredient in the fertilizer.

Nitrogen is important in overall plant health. Phosphorous is integral in root formation.  Potassium regulates water movement.  If you are just establishing a lawn, you might want to use fertilizer that has more phosphorous by percentage than nitrogen or potassium, so the plants can establish a healthy root system.  During the summer, when the grass is actively growing, you may want to use a fertilizer with more nitrogen.  Always apply nitrogen fertilizers at the rate recommended for your growing conditions and the species of grass that you grow.  A plant can only use so much fertilizer.  Any excess will be waste-in terms of money spent, and in terms of a resource that is underutilized.  Nitrogen, in particular, is harmful when over-applied, as extra nitrogen will seep through groundwater, into streams and continuing to rivers causing algal blooms and other environmental impacts.

Nitrogen fertilizer is an important part of a lawn maintenance plant.  When applied in the proper form at the proper time, it will help maintain a lawn in peak condition.

The key to a lush, healthy spring lawn is proper preparation for the winter.  When the weather turns warmer, turf grass needs to be primed and ready to go.  Because grass goes dormant during the winter, any preparation for a healthy spring must be made in the fall.  For the most part, lawn winterizing is needed for cool season grasses that grow in the northern United States.  Warm season grasses in the south go dormant in the winter.  It is beneficial to ensure that the grass has a good, healthy root system going into the fall and winter.

Fertilizer for Lawn Winterizing

The purpose of fertilizing a lawn to prepare it for winter is to fertilize at the right time for the lawn to build its root system up for the winter.  For that reason, a winter lawn fertilizer with a high potassium ratio is best, because that will stimulate root and rhizome growth, not growth of leaves and flowers. Depending upon where you live, you will most likely not want to fertilize past September or October.  Fertilizer too late in the season will cause the grass to keep growing, and could leave it susceptible to frost damage.

Aerating in the Fall

The summer is both a time of growth and harm for turf.  With people outside, enjoying their yards, playing sports and gardening, grass takes a beating.  Compaction is one of the worst problems inflicted on lawns with lots of foot traffic.  Compaction compresses the spaces in the soil where oxygen can be available to the roots.  Without oxygen, the plants cannot complete their metabolic processes  (breaking down the sugars they have stored from photosynthesis) and will die.

Aerating helps overcome compaction.  A punch-core aerator is best.  That is the type of aerator used at golf courses, and leaves the little soil cores all over the soil.  That opens up spaces within the soil that can be top-dressed with compost or sand (depending upon your soil type), which will improve soil fertility, and aeration.

Overseeding and Topdressing the Lawn

The early fall is a good time to overseed a lawn that might need renovation.  Warm season weeds will be dying off, opening up space for grass and reducing competition.  Grass that can establish itself in the fall will come back in the spring, more vigorous.  Before overseeding, aerate and top-dress with compost or sand.  This is an easy way to ensure a more lush lawn in the spring.

De-Thatching for the Winter

A thin layer of thatch is actually beneficial to lawns.  A layer beyond ½ inch thick is not beneficial, and can promote disease and fungal problems by limiting airflow between the soil and the top of grass.  Thatch is not composed of grass clippings, as many people suggest, but is rather dead stems that build up between the soil and the growing grass leaves.  Aerating is the best way to control thatch issues in a lawn.
Each of these tasks will help you winterize your lawn for healthy growth in the spring.

As autumn weather turns into winter, you make the year’s final cut, and then park your lawn mower for a few months vacation. However, this does not mean that you should forget about your yard. In order to have an impressive summer yard, winter lawn care is necessary. Of course, for those who live in Florida, parts of Texas, and southern California, winter lawn maintenance is a bit of a misnomer. Although even in warm-weather regions there are a few things you can do for effective “winter” lawn care. For a greener, healthier yard during the summer follow these winter lawn care tips:

• If you have used a cool season grass seed, this is the time to add a nitrogen rich fertilizer or soil amendment.

• If it is your first year of going green, this is a great time to have a soil test so you will know how your soil has reacted to the new regime.

• If you live in an area where there are frequent heavy rains, part of your winter lawn maintenance is to watch for soil erosion or excessive pooling. If this occurs, you will need to install a basin, drainage ditch or a relatively new method known as a rain garden.

Fighting the Cold with Winter Lawn Care

Should you live in a region where cold weather-especially snow, is an expected part of winter, lawn care has its own unique maintenance needs. Most importantly, you should be sure that your grass is no more than 2 inches long. If it is much longer it becomes an invitation to field mice, or voles, whose damage will not be noticeable until spring. The trails these creatures leave will require reseeding and extra lawn maintenance.

To have a verdant yard when the snow melts, follow these winter lawn care tips:

• If during the summer or fall you did some overseeding (spreading grass seed on top of a pre-existing lawn), it is wise to administer a potassium rich fertilizer that will strengthen your lawn for the winter.

• Add a layer of compost tea (A liquid made from aged manure in a burlap or nylon sack and steeped in water) to help your lawn have a greater amount of microbes in the soil.

• If the weather has been exceptionally dry, a final heavy watering will ensure there is plenty of moisture in the soil.

• Never use your frozen yard for additional parking as this damages the grass—your lawn is tough, but it does have its limits!

• Before the first freeze, stake the boundaries of your yard to indicate where grass starts and pavement/gravel stops.

• Select an area where excess snow can be piled.

• If you have someone use a snowplow, ask them to raise the blade 1-2 inches so there will not be any damage to the blades of grass that are not completely frozen.

• Although cheaper, never use sodium based ice melters near plants or you lawn as it is extremely toxic, a better choice is calcium chloride or sand.

While following these winter lawn care tips and lawn maintenance recommendations may take a bit of time, when spring arrives your beautiful lawn will be worth it! Your luxuriant lawn will be the talk of the neighborhood and require less spring time work because of the healthy winter lawn care it received.