Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Fertilizers - What you Need to Feed Your Lawn

2006-05-14T13:25:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care Just like humans need food, water and shelter to survive, lawns depend on certain elements to live, sixteen to be exact. Most of these elements are already found naturally in the environment, but several others need to be added to your lawn. Adding fertilizer with these three elements, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, does the job. Before you run out to the store to purchase a complete fertilizer, or, one that contains all three, it is important to understand why your lawn’s livelihood depends on it. Nitrogen- This is possibly the most important element your lawn needs. It makes the grass grow and gives it its green color. It will also allow for more density, thick shoots, and sturdy growth, thus creating an environment that will naturally fight off pests and bugs. Potassium- Since you can’t toss bananas in your yard, your best bet for this mineral is to use fertilizer! Potassium enhances your lawn’s ability to resist disease, drought, wear and cold weather. Phosphorus- This is used to encourage strong grass root growth. Most fertilizers you will find in your local home and garden stores will contain all three of these elements. However, there are different amounts of each. This is reflected in a three-digit number, such as 30-10-10, which tells the percentage of each in this order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These blends will serve different purposes. For instance, more potassium in blends are good for winterization. The factors you need to consider are grass type, climate, time of season and soil type. Once you know what your needs are, you will be able to determine the right combination of these elements. An additional way to scan your needs is determine the current levels of these nutrients in your soil. This can be done through a simple pH test. In addition to variation in percentages of the key elements, there are also different types of fertilizers to consider. There are four major options that will greet you in the fertilizer aisle: Granular (slow and fast-release), Liquid, Synthetic and Organic. Granular fertilizers are perhaps the most popular, probably due to their ease in use and duration. Since these are dry, they are much easier to spread. Granular fertilizers can come in a slow time-release formula, which provides fertilization over two to six months. This is an efficient choice for homeowners, as it will not need another application for months to come. Granular is also available in fast-release, and although applied in the same manner, the nutrients are released quicker and work better in cold weather. This method also costs less. However, grass burn can occur and there will be a greater need for watering. Liquid fertilizers are just as the name says- in liquid form. These are applied by attaching a hose and nozzle to a spray bottle. The contents of the bottle are usually in concentrated form, thus the need to mix with the water. If you can use a hose, this is an easy method, more so than spreading granular around the yard. Also, since this a liquid, nutrients are available immediately to the roots of your vegetation. Herbicides can also be added or applied during this treatment. But, since the results are immediate, applications will have to be repeated more often than granular, and since liquid is more expensive to begin with, it can be more costly. Synthetic fertilizers are usually manufactured chemically, hence being called synthetic. These engineered fertilizers offer immediate release of nutrients, and make lawns green. They simply penetrate the soil quicker. However, they are not natural, and many argue that lawns should be treated naturally. Applications of synthetic fertilizer needs to be redone more often, as results don’t last as long. They can also burn your lawn if not applied in a proper manner. Finally, organic fertilizers are made from once living organisms and their bi-products. These are applied to the lawn by spreaders, rakes and even by hand. Since this a totally natural fertilizer, the organics tend to break down slow when releasing nitrogen. They will improve the texture and density of your lawn, especially when added to soil or lakebed sand. There are some drawbacks however, including a foul smell in the case of manures. Also, these soils tend to have more nitrogen than other elements. In summary, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to consider many things: The current nutrition of your lawn, how much money you want to spend, how much labor you want to invest in application- initial and repeats, as well as personal preference. But with the spurt in technology, choices keep growing as more combinations are being introduced. We talk about all of this in more detail in our recently released eBook Creating your Dream Lawn which you are welcome to have a look at by clicking on Create Your Dream Lawn. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Weed Out the Competition – Top Three Weed Problems of your Lawn

2006-05-14T13:21:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care Weeds can be a consistent problem when you are trying to have a nice looking lawn, which receives the right amount of nutrients and continues to grow. Weeds can become overbearing in your yard, and if the proper maintenance isn’t given, they can completely take over your lawn. Because of this, it is important to know what the problems with weeds are. By identifying the major problems that your lawn may be having with weeds, it will be easier to eliminate the weeds and allow your lawn to grow better while receiving the proper care. Broadleaf weeds. These are the number one type of weed that is found in lawns. They can easily take over the entire yard by taking the good soil and water from your plants. Some of these will appear every single year, with new roots forming in the same place, even after you pull them out. The seeds spread quickly as well. These are found in almost every single lawn and are constantly taking the nutrients and water from the grass that is growing around it. If these aren’t handled, they can easily kill off all of the grass and take over your lawn. However, there are several other types of weeds which will try to take over your lawn. It is always best to identify what these are. Growing and spreading of weeds. One of the most common problems with weeds is that they reproduce easily. Once one weed finds a home in your lawn, several others will begin to spring up around it. Because of this, it becomes hard to get a handle on the weeds once they start growing. Even after you have pulled the weeds out, there may still be several seeds or roots that are in the yard, which will cause the weeds to take the nutrients from the lawn and use them for their own growth. Hidden Weeds. Sometimes, it is hard to see the weeds that are in your lawn. They may get mowed over, or may just be a small type of weed to begin with. Several weeds will thrive without you ever noticing that they are there. This will help them to grow and spread throughout the lawn, causing major problems later on. Because of this, it is important to take some time to find the hidden weeds that are growing in your grass. These kinds will always continue to grow and eliminate the nutrients that the grass needs in order to survive. Because of the problems that weeds bring with them, there are several ways to get rid of the weeds. The first thing to do is to identify which type of weed it is. There are some types of weeds that are best eliminated at a certain type of year. By doing this, you will be determining that they will never come back again. The second thing to do is to find the right type of weed eliminator for your yard. Some will use a fertilizer or spray in order to get the weeds out. Others will spend time pulling the weeds out from their yard. If you decide to do this, it is important to get all of the roots out with the weed, in order to make sure that you are getting rid of the entire problem. If weeds do take over your yard, it is because they are soaking up the nutrients and water that the grass needs. By doing this, the grass will not be as green as it should be; it will begin to turn brown, and eventually will die completely, while the weeds begin to get healthier. Because of this, it is important to find weeds before they get too big and start to soak up all of the nutrients that are supposed to be going to your lawn. Weeds can become problematic for lawns. They can easily take over an entire yard by taking nutrients, spreading easily, and returning year after year. Certain types of weeds are especially attracted to lawns and need to be watched for. Because of this, the proper maintenance, as well as identifying the type of weed that is taking over your yard will help in eliminating weeds completely. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Starting your own Lawn Care Business

2006-05-07T12:19:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care Starting your own Lawn Care Business With the summer months starting here in the UK a number of people have been telling me that they are thinking of trying to earn a little extra by doing what they love doing which is creating the perfect lawn! I have been looking around and have found a couple of really informative guides which are well worth checking out: How to Start the Ultimate Lawn Service How to Start a Lawn Company How To Double Your Lawn Care Business In The Next 30 Days Hope you find them helpful. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - How to Cut your Lawn Properly

2006-05-07T12:14:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care Lawn Cutting is an Art Form—How to Cut your Lawn Properly I bet you don’t think of mowing your yard as an art form. A chore has to be done if you have any lawn at all. It takes about 30 minutes to mow your patch of lawn, and most likely you don’t consider it a form of art. To have a healthy, hearty growing lawn, you do need how to cut your lawn properly. Lawn mowing can give you a great workout, be relaxing and gives you a good feeling when your lawn is freshly mowed and looking neat and tidy. When do you mow? That seems like a simple question but if you’ve been following the same mowing, routine you may not have thought about it. You should never mow when your lawn is wet. Grass doesn’t bag or mulch properly and it can cause clumping of the lawn. Schedule your lawn mowing for late afternoon or evening, not only will it be cooler but also it will have had plenty of time to dry from the morning dew or after early morning watering. Another drawback to mowing while damp is that it can spread lawn fungus very quickly. You can do the same thing when the lawn is dry but is much more likely to happen when mowing a wet lawn. You don’t have to mow every Saturday. Some grasses will flourish during the summer months and may need to be mowed every 3-4 days. On the other hand, if there has been little rainfall, you may not need to mow more than once a month. Grass has its peak-growing season and you will need to adapt your lawn-mowing schedule to your grass. Sorry, your grass will not make any concessions for you! What happens if you have been away from home and your lawn is overgrown when you return home? The worst possible thing you could do is to get out the mower and cut it down to the standard height you normally mow it to. What you should do is to mow one third of the height at a time. If your lawn is overgrown by more than six inches, cut two inches off and let the lawn mower set for a couple of days. This will allow your lawn to recover before you bring it out and cut it again. If you do cut it too short, watch closely for weeds and give it plenty of water. Weeds will crop up fast in a scalped lawn. Do you mow your lawn in the same pattern and direction every time? If you do, you could be creating streaks and striped lines that will grow back irregularly and look bad. It is recommended to change your mowing direction each time you mow. One time go side to side, the next time go from top to bottom. This cross cutting will help your lawn to grow and won’t be matted or trampled in the same place each time you mow. Should you bag or mulch? That’s another good question. You will need to have a lawn mower that will mulch with plenty of horsepower to cut and essentially re-cut the grass to drop back into the lawn. Clippings are a perfectly balanced, slow release, non chemical lawn fertilizer. Best of all, it will reduce your need for fertilizer by 50 percent and its free and natural. Mulching your lawn does increase the development of thatch in your lawn. Thatch build up is harmful to your lawn as well. Make sure that your blades are sharp. Try to sharpen them at least two times during the mowing season. This will keep your mulching mower working more efficiently. If you aren’t keeping your blades sharp, then you are tearing the blades of grass and not cutting them. That will cause your lawn to look ragged and increase its susceptibility to disease. If you notice thatch is building up you may want to bag your clippings occasionally. Mulching is recommended during heat waves, after fertilization and during times of drought. It will provide the soil with increased cover to hold in what moisture it does receive. Clippings can contain as much as 80% water and 5% nitrogen with other nutrients found in small quantities and will be continually fertilizing your lawn. Create the Perfect Lawn! Step by step guide on building and maintaining a perfect garden lawn. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Five Basic Rules to Applying Fertilizer to your Lawn

2006-05-07T12:09:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care Fertile Ground: Five Basic Rules to Applying Fertilizer to your Lawn The right fertilizer can make all the difference in your lawn’s appearance and texture, but applying the wrong product or applying the fertilizer in the wrong manner may seriously damage your grass. Here are five basic rules that you should keep in mind when planning to apply fertilizer to your lawn. 1. Choose the Right Fertilizer Because there are so many different soil variations, there are many different varieties of fertilizer. Before choosing a fertilizer for your lawn, you should check the pH level of your soil. You can do so by sending a soil sample off to a lab for analysis or you can get do-it-yourself soil test kit at your local home or garden center. Once you know the levels in your soil, you can fix a fertilizer with the right balance of elements to correct the nutrient levels in your soil. You can use organic matter to fertilize, but it will be slow releasing and will take some time to adjust the nutrient levels since it is all done naturally. If you choose to buy a non-organic fertilizer (which most gardeners do), then you need to keep three letters in mind: N, P and K. These letters stand for nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). All three are essential to good growing conditions and should be present in the right balance in your soil. Nitrogen gives grass its deep green color and also encourages growth. Phosphorous is responsible for promoting root growth. Finally, potassium connects to the stress resistance of the grass. On the bag of fertilizer you choose there will be three numbers – these numbers represent the percentage of each element in the fertilizer mix. The numbers will always be presented in the order N-P-K. When you choose a fertilizer mix, you need to know the nutrient levels in your soil area and you also need to know what kind of a mix your variety of grass requires. 2. Know When and How Often to Fertilize Different varieties of grass have different fertilizer needs. For some grasses, you will only need to fertilize in the fall. The fall is the ideal time to fertilize because the grass can store energy for the long winter ahead. Fertilizing in the spring can sometimes encourage more growth than the grass roots can keep up with. There are some varieties of grass that require fall and spring and there are other types that require fertilization anywhere from four to six times during the growing season. You need to determine what kind of grass you have and then research how often it requires fertilization. 3. Measure Your Lawn Space You need to make sure that you know that size of your lawn. When measuring how much fertilizer you need make sure that you are only figuring out how much lawn you have. You need to subtract the size of your house, driveway and any planted drives from the size of your property to get the size of your lawn. The standard ratio of nutrients to land space should be listed on the side of the fertilizer bag. 4. Apply the Fertilizer Evenly You want to make sure that you are applying the fertilizer evenly across your lawn. You do not want to end up with too much or too late in any areas. You should use a fertilizer spreader and if you do not own one, you should see about borrowing one from a neighbor or renting one from your local garden center. If you are unsure of what setting to use on the fertilizer spreader, you should consult the bag of fertilizer. Most fertilizers have the settings for the most common spreaders listed on the back of bag. 5. Plenty of Water You should water right after you apply the fertilizer –within at least 24 hours. Water is needed to activate the fertilizer and to prevent the fertilizer granules from burning your lawn. Many people fertilize just before they expect it to rain, but you need to make sure that enough water makes it onto your grass within 24 hours of fertilizer application. This will ensure that your lawn sustains no damage during fertilization and that you get the lush, green color that you expect. I came across this information from John Perez, a professional gardener and was intrigued. Have a look and see what you think: Lawn Care - Insecticides Lawn Care

Lawn Care - How to Diagnose what’s Eating your Lawn

2006-05-07T12:01:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care Bugged Out! How to Diagnose what’s Eating your Lawn Insects can cause a lot of problems in a lawn. They can eat the grass blades, attack the roots, or just be a nuisance. The best way to get rid of an insect problem in your lawn is to call a professional, but if you want to do the work yourself, you should make sure you can identify some of the more common lawn insects. First on the list is the immortal aphid. Aphids feed on all types of vegetation and come in a few varieties. If you get white pine aphids in your yard, they may not cause damage to your grass, but they can get into any decorative trees you may have and wreak havoc. There are many species, so if you think you do have an aphid problem, the best thing to do is consult a professional. If you live in the southern part of the United States then you are likely familiar with a major turf pest: the armyworm. An armyworm is a moth in its larval form. They feed directly on turf grasses and will chew them all the way down to the ground. They most often appear in the fall as they feed to store up for the winter. Armyworms can cause a great deal of damage to a lawn if left untreated. Another tough pest is the billbug. There are a number of different species of billbugs that attack different types of turf grass. The adults grow to about ¾ of an inch in length and can be identified by a long snout. These beetles will burrow in the grass stems right up by the surface of the soil. They also will feed directly on the grass leaves. Another lawn pest is the chigger. Chiggers don’t really do damage to the lawn itself, but if you plan to enjoy your lawn with your family, you don’t want a chigger problem. Chiggers are a type of mite that will attach themselves to your skin. Once they are attached they release a point that causes severe itching and stinging so that they may get access to blood. They are very tiny, so often only their effects are seen rather than the mites themselves. Another moth larva that can cause a real problem is the cutworm. Cutworms are a spotted gray or black caterpillar that is about 2 inches in length. They will hide in the soil of your lawn during the day, and then they will come out at night to feed on your grass. They can do severe damage to Bermuda grasses, bent grasses and rye grasses which are their preferred food. Another very destructive larva is that of several beetles, including the Japanese beetle. That, of course, there is the grub. Grubs live below the surface of the lawn and feast on the roots of grass plants. This eventually destroys the plant. Generally grubs do most of their damage during the late summer months. The resulting damage, though, may not be apparent to the eye until fall rolls around and it is too late. If you are susceptible to grub problems, you should try to get your lawn treated in the early summer when the grubs are most susceptible to treatments and pesticides. Leafhoppers are a tiny, but damaging, little pest. They are wedge shaped hopping and flying insects that are generally green in color. There are many species of leaf hopper, but most all of them love to feast on lawns. They climb onto the blades of the grass and suck the sap from the stems and leaves. The damage they cause can sometimes be so severe that lawns have to be reseeded. If you see white patches showing up in your yard, you may have a leaf hopper problem and should get it treated as soon as possible. Insects, worms, and bugs can cause a lot of problems for an otherwise healthy lawn. There are countless types of these pests and many species within each type, but no matter which pest it is, quick identification and treatment is important. It is recommended that you consult a professional before treating your lawn, but by identifying the problem early you may be able to get a jump on it before things get too serious. How to create the Perfect Lawn in just 4 days! Build Your Own Automatic Lawn Sprinkler System. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Your Garden

2006-04-11T19:49:00.000+01:00

Lawn Care We have put together a site which you may find of interest at http://gardening.thebestonlineproducts.com do check it out and see if there is anything that will help you. You may alswo want to check out www.thebestonlineproducts.com Take care Paul Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Fertilisers

2006-03-19T11:18:00.000Z

Lawn Care Just like humans need food, water and shelter to survive, lawns depend on certain elements to live, sixteen to be exact. Most of these elements are already found naturally in the environment, but several others need to be added to your lawn. Adding fertilizer with these three elements, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, does the job. Before you run out to the store to purchase a complete fertilizer, or, one that contains all three, it is important to understand why your lawn’s livelihood depends on it. Nitrogen- This is possibly the most important element your lawn needs. It makes the grass grow and gives it its green color. It will also allow for more density, thick shoots, and sturdy growth, thus creating an environment that will naturally fight off pests and bugs. Potassium- Since you can’t toss bananas in your yard, your best bet for this mineral is to use fertilizer! Potassium enhances your lawn’s ability to resist disease, drought, wear and cold weather. Phosphorus- This is used to encourage strong grass root growth. Most fertilizers you will find in your local home and garden stores will contain all three of these elements. However, there are different amounts of each. This is reflected in a three-digit number, such as 30-10-10, which tells the percentage of each in this order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These blends will serve different purposes. For instance, more potassium in blends are good for winterization. The factors you need to consider are grass type, climate, time of season and soil type. Once you know what your needs are, you will be able to determine the right combination of these elements. An additional way to scan your needs is determine the current levels of these nutrients in your soil. This can be done through a simple pH test. In addition to variation in percentages of the key elements, there are also different types of fertilizers to consider. There are four major options that will greet you in the fertilizer aisle: Granular (slow and fast-release), Liquid, Synthetic and Organic. Granular fertilizers are perhaps the most popular, probably due to their ease in use and duration. Since these are dry, they are much easier to spread. Granular fertilizers can come in a slow time-release formula, which provides fertilization over two to six months. This is an efficient choice for homeowners, as it will not need another application for months to come. Granular is also available in fast-release, and although applied in the same manner, the nutrients are released quicker and work better in cold weather. This method also costs less. However, grass burn can occur and there will be a greater need for watering. Liquid fertilizers are just as the name says- in liquid form. These are applied by attaching a hose and nozzle to a spray bottle. The contents of the bottle are usually in concentrated form, thus the need to mix with the water. If you can use a hose, this is an easy method, more so than spreading granular around the yard. Also, since this a liquid, nutrients are available immediately to the roots of your vegetation. Herbicides can also be added or applied during this treatment. But, since the results are immediate, applications will have to be repeated more often than granular, and since liquid is more expensive to begin with, it can be more costly. Synthetic fertilizers are usually manufactured chemically, hence being called synthetic. These engineered fertilizers offer immediate release of nutrients, and make lawns green. They simply penetrate the soil quicker. However, they are not natural, and many argue that lawns should be treated naturally. Applications of synthetic fertilizer needs to be redone more often, as results don’t last as long. They can also burn your lawn if not applied in a proper manner. Finally, organic fertilizers are made from once living organisms and their bi-products. These are applied to the lawn by spreaders, rakes and even by hand. Since this a totally natural fertilizer, the organics tend to break down slow when releasing nitrogen. They will improve the texture and density of your lawn, especially when added to soil or lakebed sand. There are some drawbacks however, including a foul smell in the case of manures. Also, these soils tend to have more nitrogen than other elements. In summary, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to consider many things: The current nutrition of your lawn, how much money you want to spend, how much labor you want to invest in application- initial and repeats, as well as personal preference. But with the spurt in technology, choices keep growing as more combinations are being introduced. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Bonsai Garden Secrets

2006-02-26T08:33:00.000Z

Lawn Care I don't know about you but I think there is something quite magical about Bonsai Trees as an addition to the Home Landscape. So if you are thinking of incorporating Bonsai Trees into your Landscaping Ideas for your Home then you will want to check out this fabulous resource I have come across Bonsai Garden Secrets Hope it helps! Lawn Care

Lawn Care - some landscaping ideas for your Garden

2006-02-26T08:30:00.000Z

Lawn Care If you want to build an attractive landscape, but do not where to begin, there are plenty of common landscape design ideas and features available for you to gain inspiration. You can use the ideas yourself or add a little twist to make the landscape design all your own. There are any number of conventional landscape ideas that can help you get started on your own projects and provide inspiration for future projects. Some of the most common landscape design features are decks and patios. These can either be professionally installed or you can build one yourself. Patios and decks provide a great deal of enjoyment on many levels as part of the use of space in the landscape design. You can use decks and patios for family gatherings or for entertaining. They can also be used to great effect as places to just sit and relax and enjoy. While a basic square shape is the most common of these landscape features, it is also possible to get them in different shapes, depending on your preferences and your needs. However, if you care for your landscape yourself, the square is very convenient for other activities, such as mowing and trimming the lawn. Rock gardens are features that are rising in popularity as well. These landscape features can provide a great deal of attractiveness, but make use of fewer plants. Landscapes that include rock gardens need less water and less attention. Additionally, the plants that often go with rock gardens are usually hardier and need a little less care. These are easy to care for, and can save money. Additionally, it is possible to build your own rock garden in the landscape, saving you even more money. English cottage gardens are known for their lack of formality. There is no rigidity in their designs, and because they are more or less allowed to “just grow” require less maintenance than some other types of gardens. These are common gardens because they evoke a sense of charm. They are most common in backyard landscaping, for those who want to enjoy the garden and show an informal sense of elegance while entertaining. In the United States, of course, the lawn remains the most dominant landscape feature, especially in the front. But an English cottage garden can be very fine due its riot of flowering plants. Most landscape features of this sort include rose bushes, perennials and vines. Sometimes they are even allowed to go across pathways. Because perennials are so used, they grow back every year, without much effort. An increasing trend in landscape design is incorporating elements of the Japanese garden. Of course, in Western circles, many of the times this is interpreted to mean showy flowers. These showy flowers grab attention, and many times landscapes will centre around these plants. They can be difficult to take care of, as they are often non-native. They can also be expensive. However, some people are turning their backyard landscapes into gardens that are more in keeping with traditional Japanese garden principles of simplicity including more foliage and design structures. These types of gardens are less expensive and can be equally attractive. Of course, the most common landscape feature is the lawn. This is because the lawn allows a platform for family activities. Additionally, overall, it is also fairly easy to care for. It need only be mowed by machines that are relatively easy use, and it can be fertilized and watered fairly inexpensively, if one does so properly and with common sense. Different people do a variety of things with their lawns, and it has become increasing popular to add a small flowerbed in the middle of the lawn for decoration. Having trees on the lawn is also another popular way to adorn the lawn and make it more inviting and attractive. Creating a beautiful landscape is a matter of enjoyment for many people. However, many of them find it difficult to know where to begin, and know what is possible. But it you are hesitant about where to begin or what to do, trying a tried and true landscape feature can help you succeed in your endeavours to beautify the home environment. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - the price of insecticides!

2006-02-19T19:39:00.000Z

Lawn Care I have been looking at the price of insecticides this afternoon and I have to admit I have been amazed! How on earth do they get to charge so much for them? Then I came across this information from John Perez, a professional gardener and was intrigued. Have a look and see what you think: Lawn Care - Insecticides I am sure it will help you cut the costs of getting that perfect lawn! Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Your dream Lawn

2006-02-19T11:33:00.000Z

Lawn Care Your Dream Lawn! I don't know about you but we are starting to think about how we get the large area of lawn at the front of the house looking at it's best for the coming year! There is still a bit of frost in the air in the mornings but the days are starting to get warmer and the lawn is starting to grow again. Now there is a heavily discounted eBook Package which deals with every aspect of creating your Dream lawn! You may want to take a look at it and at the price it's being offered at snap it up! Lawn Care - Creating your Dream Lawn! Enjoy! Lawn Care

Lawn Care - When to Mow

2006-02-19T11:29:00.000Z

Lawn Care When to Mow! If you think you can head out and mow the lawn whenever you feel it convenient, think again. The timing of mowing your lawn plays more of a role than you may think. In the cool season, your grass should be cut when it reaches the height of 3-3.5 inches, which amounts to about once per week. During the warmer weather, grass should be cut a little sooner, when it reaches about 2-2.5 inches. It is important to cut no more than 1/3 of the height off, as this will avoid damaging the plant life. If you missed a mow or two, and you will not have an acceptable length, even after the 1/3 is off, still cut off that amount. Then in another day or too, cut off another third. Then, you should be back on track. The reason you should not cut off more than a third is because it can result in piles of clippings scattered about the lawn. These piles decompose more slowly, and will make your lawn appear less attractive and open. Also, cutting too short can actually stunt growth and weaken the grass itself. But once you put the mower back in the shed, your job is not done. The health of your lawn also depends on the health of your mower. Lawn Care

Lawn Care - Understanding Weeds

2006-02-18T12:36:00.000Z

Lawn Care Understanding Weeds When I was a child, I loved to pick Dandelions. The pretty yellow flowers were small, colorful, and looked nice tucked behind my ear! However, if one had popped up in the front yard, my hair accessory would have been considered an atrocity! I often feel sorry for weeds. They are plants too. In fact, if you flipped through a botany field guide, you may be surprised at the plants you find classified as weeds! But simply put, a weed is really defined as a plant out of place. Clover in one persons flowing lawn may be considered fashionable, whereas on another, not. Golf greens are often covered with bentgrass, but if it crept up in some yards, it would be considered a weed. While perhaps pretty on their own, weeds stick out like a sore thumb in yards because they may be of a different color, size or texture. This is distracting from the beauty of the otherwise sprawling green turf. Aside from aesthetic values, weeds can also drain nutrients from grass and other plants, and this competition of resources can thin what should be lush. And what’s worse is that weeds are fighters. They can withstand conditions that your wanted greens cannot, so they are almost inevitable! Treating weeds begins with correct identification. There are two classifications of weeds: Grassy and Broadleaf. These are further broken down into groups like perennial, biennial, and winter and summer annuals. These, as you may gave guessed, depict their growing patterns. Grassy weeds are, as they sound, like grass. However, they are unwanted grass, or grass that is growing in a different type of lawn. Some examples are annual bluegrass, barnyard grass, crabgrass, creeping bentgrass and foxtail. Broadleaf weeds may appear more to be what most people picture weed-like growth to be. Since they are broad, they are more easily distinguished. Some examples are yarrow, knotweed, chickweed, clover, ground ivy, thistle and my favorite, the dandelion. Once you understand what is growing in your lawn and decide that it is unwanted, you can treat it and/or control it. Weeds can actually be controlled by your lawn care maintenance. If you maintain a dense and vigorously growing lawn, you are already combating the problem. Weeds can be a sign of underlying problems in the environment beneath. So by just killing them, you are simply putting on a band-aid, not solving the problem. For example, some weeds grow in situations of compacted soil, such as knotweed. You can also control the growth by taking better care of the grass, rather than focus on the weeds. You can raise or lower the mowing height, change the frequency of mowing and changing the amount of time between irrigating. Also, you can increase or decrease application of fertilizer and aerify the soil. This will maintain better grass, thus keeping the growth dense and vigorous, which as discussed above, does not attract weeds. In addition to culture practices, sometimes the assistance of chemicals is needed to control weed growth. In that case, there are several types of herbicides that can be used. Preemergence herbicides will affect seeds that are germinating. Since they are best used two to three weeks before the seeds start to grow, these work best to combat annual weeds. Postmergence herbicides are used, as their prefix implies, after the weeds have sprouted. Since they must be absorbed through the leaves, this types of herbicide works best with a spray. These can be used at any time, but are most effective when the weed is still young and growing. Selective postmergence herbicides are usually used to control annual, biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds, as they will not damage grass. But, they can kill trees, shrubs and flowers. These have to be used in proper conditions as well, with no rain in the forecast for two days to follow, air 60-80 degrees and no winds. Finally, non-selective postmergence herbicides kill all types of weeds, and are best used to spot treat grassy weeds that are not affected by the selective herbicides. So next time you see a Dandelion plant growing, don’t make a wish and blow the seeds toward in the direction of a lawn fanatic- they may not get the perfectly manicured lawn they wished for! Understanding Weeds Lawn care

Lawn Care

2006-02-18T11:58:00.000Z

Welcome to my Lawn Care Blog. Here you will learn the expert tips on Lawn Care and how to ensure that the efforts you put into Lawn care will reap rewards by producing a Lawn that you can be proud of. Take care Paul http://lawn-care.blogspot.com