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A healthy lawn provides your family with a pleasant place to play and relax. It also nourishes the environment and raises property value.
Use a soil test to determine your lawn’s nutritional needs before feeding it with liquid or granular fertilizer. Read fertilizer labels for actual nitrogen percentage levels and other nutrients.
Watering
Lawn care is the practice of maintaining a healthy lawn through fertilization, weed control, and soil health management. It also includes insect control and turf disease management. Lawn care services help homeowners and businesses achieve a lush green lawn that is both attractive and drought-resistant.
One of the most important aspects of lawn care is proper watering. The goal is to keep the top 6-8 inches of soil moist, but not soggy. Watering deeply, a few times a week, leads to healthier roots and a more resilient lawn that is less likely to be affected by drought.
The best time to water your lawn is in the morning (before 10am). The sun and wind are usually cooler, and it’s less likely that moisture will evaporate before it can soak into the ground. Avoid watering at night, as this can increase the likelihood of lawn diseases.
If you aren’t sure whether your lawn needs water, try this simple test: Step on the grass. If it springs back up, it’s healthy; if it stays flat, it needs to be watered. It’s also a good idea to check the weather forecast and monitor rainfall before you water your lawn. Watering in the rain can wash away weed seeds and prevent your lawn from getting the nutrients it needs. If you must water during a rainstorm, use a fine spray to reduce the chance of splashing.
Fertilizing
Lawn care is the process of promoting healthy growth for your lawn’s grass, trees, shrubs and flowers. It includes mowing and raking, chemical spraying, fertilizing, weed control and other types of landscaping maintenance. Lawn care is a vital part of home maintenance and yard upkeep.
The best way to ensure that your lawn gets all of the nutrients it needs to thrive is to fertilize it regularly. Grass requires nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in order to grow. Fertilizers provide these nutrients for your grass and help it look lush, green and hydrated.
A nutrient-depleted lawn will be more vulnerable to stress, insects and diseases. If you want your lawn to be its healthiest, you should consider feeding it about six times a year with fertilizer. This will give your grass a strong root system and help it better stand up to extreme heat and cold, drought, mowing and foot traffic.
You should start fertilizing your lawn in the spring, when it awakens from winter. This is when the lawn needs the most nourishment, and you can use a fertilizer that has high phosphorous content. You should also apply fertilizer during the summer, when your lawn is in its peak growth period, and in fall. You can choose between granular and liquid fertilizers, which you can spread with a fertilizer spreader or hose-end sprayer, and slow-release fertilizers that will release nutrients over time.
Weeding
A beautiful, lush lawn is one of the best investments you can make to enhance your home’s curb appeal and property value. But weeds can spoil the look of a well-maintained yard and suck moisture and nutrients away from your grass. A comprehensive weed control program can help to keep pesky intruders at bay throughout the year. This can include pre-emergent treatments in the spring to prevent weeds from sprouting; broadleaf applications to knock out dandelions, clover, and other common summer annual weeds; and spot treatment as they appear.
A healthy, dense lawn crowds out weeds, making them much less likely to take root. Regular mowing, proper watering, and fertilization help to keep your lawn thick and healthy and to discourage weeds from growing.
Hiring a professional lawn care company can save you the time and cost of maintaining your own mower, weed eater, or other equipment. In addition, you won’t have to deal with the inconvenience of storing and refueling gas cans and mixing chemical sprays.
A quality lawn service will know how to handle the specific needs of your local climate and soil. They will be able to recommend the best treatments for your particular property, as well as offer a wide range of lawn services including mowing, aeration, seeding, and weed control. They can also trim trees, shrubs and bushes for a fresh appearance that improves curb appeal.
Mowing
Lawn care professionals can take the pressure off homeowners by putting their yard on a regular schedule of mowing, trimming, fertilizing, and other tasks. They also know how to operate professional-grade equipment and can often purchase materials like mulch or plants in bulk for less cost than retail.
In addition to the cosmetic benefit of a well-manicured lawn, regularly mowing helps control pests and weeds. Overgrown grass provides ideal habitats for insects and rodents, which can damage property and spread disease. In contrast, a thick, healthy lawn discourages widespread pests and deters most diseases that plague turfgrasses.
The size and terrain of a lawn affects how long it takes to mow, which in turn affects how much the service costs. Other factors that can increase the cost of mowing include the presence of obstacles like fences, children’s play structures, or large trees that must be trimmed or removed. Annual or semiannual tasks like aeration, weed control, trimming, and leaf cleanup can also drive up the cost of lawn care services.
Some lawn care companies offer discounts for repeat business or for prepaid service contracts. It is important to understand what you are paying for and to ask questions if you are unclear about the charges on your bill.