5 lawn care tips

Every one of us, at one point or another, wished of having a beautiful lawn where we can spend quality time with our family and friends during weekends.  What keeps most people from fulfilling this dream is the care needed for lawn maintenance.  Most people perceive it as a time-consuming and complex set of activities.  The reverse is true, however, for when done regularly, lawn care will prove to be enjoyable and easy. 

There are two approaches towards lawn care: (1) use of fertilizers and pesticides and (2) the natural or organic approach.  Lawn care specialists would actually recommend the second as doing so keeps the harmful chemicals away from your lawn.  The natural method allows you to take care of your lawn while being environmentally friendly. Outlined below are the three main elements involved in natural lawn care.

Mow Efficiently

* Mow High. For better and deeper root development, experts advise that you set mowing height up to 2 inches.  There is more crowding out of weeds using such setting.

* Mow Often. Doing the mowing job in bulk actually stresses the grass.  Thus, experts advise that during spring, you mow once a week.  Also, make sure that at each mowing, you don’t cut the grass to more than one-third of its height.

* Leave the Clippings. After mowing, do not take out the clippings.  These will actually turn into useful and efficient fertilizers and help promote greener and denser grass growth. This method, which is also referred to as “grass cycling,” also prevents thatch buildup.

Water Properly

* Water the whole root zone. Be certain that you water the whole root zone and you allow it to partially dry between cycles.  This method ensures that root zones are properly moistened, which is essential for healthy grass growth.

* Be wary of the weather. Consider the weather prior to proceeding with watering. Do not engage in such activity if it rains, or rain is about to come. For more information on evapotranspiration and irrigation of lawn in concurrence to weather conditions, refer to Irrigation and Sprinkler Tips.

Use Alternatives of Pesticides

* Uproot weeds and reduce pest damage.

* Do not cover your lawn in its entirety in an attempt to get rid of a few dandelions.  When possible, remove weeds by hand during spring or fall.

* Timing is of essence.  Be sure to use the right herbicide for the right weed at the right time.

To reiterate, the use of natural lawn care methods allows you to have a healthier lawn without introducing harmful chemicals to the environment. In the long run, an excessive use of fertilizers will actually affect soil and grass quality.

Most landscapers and lawn owners today want more than conventional lawns. As a result, putting of shrubs in the lawns is becoming a trend.

How to Plant Shrubs

Shrubs that may be placed in your lawn come in different types, such as red twig dogwood, shrub roses and hydrangeas.  In planting them, you need to dig deep holes in the ground to provide room for plant roots to spread and gain access to water beneath the soil.

While planting and after placing the plant in the hole, soil may be mixed with peat moss and the opening may be filled up with loose soil, respectively. The now planted shrub should be adequately watered, especially in dry season. To achieve the desired effect, you may hire an expert to trim and form the shrubs into different shapes.
  
Shrub Care and Management

Basic care for shrubs usually includes proper watering, fertilization, controlling pests and trimming or shaping. While still young, shrubs need more water as their roots are not large enough to reach for water beneath the ground.  Their need for water goes down as they age. Also, shrubs grow well with the help of some fertilizers. An effective shrub fertilizer is mulch.  The use of this supplement, however, can be minimized if the soil in your lawn is of quality.

Shrubs, by nature, are pest resistant. When planted around the lawn, they may also act as pest repellants. Sometimes, shrubs themselves may be afflicted with pest problems. In such case, organic pesticides may be used. 

On another note, trimming depends on the kind of shrub in the lawn.  Flowering shrubs, for example, need to be trimmed a month after blooming.  Fortunately, there are shrubs that are inherently shaped in a delightful way.  This fact, however, does not limit you from seeking expert advice regarding trimming.  In addition, some plants from other locations may be directly replanted in your lawn.

Positive and Negative Effects of Shrubs

Shrubs, like anything else, bring both advantages and disadvantages.  They break the monotony of conventional lawns by providing your space with an enhanced look.  They can also properly define the borders of your lawn. 

On another side, shrubs require tedious care and management.  When situated in the wrong place, they may invite pests in and create unwanted shade, which, in general, can be hazardous to your lawn.

With proper care and management, however, the benefits of having shrubs in your lawn will outweigh the negative effects, therefore providing you with a picture-perfect lawn.

As in any industry, lawn care companies differ from each other with the kind of program and services that they are offering. Lawn care companies do not only vary according to cost, but to standard and optional agronomic services as well. The cost for a standard program, the services that make up the standard program, and types and cost of optional services also change from one company to another.  Because of this, homeowners find it difficult to choose the right provider. This then creates the need for proper planning in order to create an impression of having the best lawn.

Standard and Optional Lawn Care Services

Fertilization is perhaps the most common ingredient in any lawn care program. Most lawn care companies offer pre-emergence and post-emergence weed control as part of their standard program while others treat these as optional services.  Most lawn care services also include the control of surface-feeding insects in their standard package while grub control is usually offered at an extra cost. 

Insect control is not usually offered by most companies, but some provide this kind of lawn care service at an extra cost.  Also, most standard lawn care companies do not include disease control while other companies offer this as an optional service, requiring a homeowner to cash out more money.

Providing the Extra Mile

Reputable lawn care companies acknowledge that lawn quality will vary from time to time due to changes in weather.  Therefore, it is impossible for them to assure you that no lawn care issues will arise if you contact them.  Because of this, such companies extend lawn care services that they know will keep their customers satisfied. If a customer is not satisfied with a particular service, some providers offer corrective applications for free.  To handle customer calls, other companies employ sales/service representatives who may also visit homeowners if the latter’s concerns are not resolved over the phone.

A lawn cannot be well maintained if hard work and time are put to good use. The best results cannot be obtained if the person doing the job does not have the right lawn care equipment. Technology has led to improvements in lawn care equipment, too, enabling them to contribute to high quality lawn care services.

Equipment for Mowing

Mowing equipment is very important as mowing is one of the basic tasks in lawn care.

* Hand held edger. A hand held edger is an equipment largely used for cutting the grass on the side of the pavement. There are many types of hand held edgers as they are especially made for larger lawns.

* Grass shears. Another very much used lawn care equipment are the grass shears. These tools are meant for cutting the grass that grows around the trees and around the bed edges. Their main advantage is that they can cut the grass that is more harder to reach.

* String trimmers. In order to shape and edge long lawns, string trimmers are used.

* Other lawn mower types. These include reel mowers, rotary power mowers, push-type mowers, electric rotary mowers, solar-powered mowers and lawn tractors.

The most popular lawn care equipment in the United States are chord less mowers. They are preferred as they are clean and quiet, they work on electricity and they are environmental friendly in comparison with other types of mowers. The noise produced by a chord less mower is under 65 decibels and the emission of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides is reduced by 99 percent.

Maintenance for Blades

In order to obtain a nice, clean cut for the grass lawn, it is very important that the blades of the lawn mowers are properly maintained. This way, the mower works well and the cost is kept to a minimum.

Tillers

Tillers, or soil cultivators, as they are called, serve mainly for prepare the soil in order to be planted.

Aerators

Aerators are the lawn care equipment used for the task called aeration. Aerators  remove plugs of dirt within the soil.

Spreaders

Owners of large lawns can make good use of spreaders, lawn care equipment used for spreading the lawns with pesticides or for sprinkling water.

Other Lawn Care Equipment

Other lawn care equipment, like over seeders, post hole diggers and chippers, are also used in order to maintain the lawn in good conditions.

Using the right lawn care equipments is essential for someone who wishes to have a beautiful lawn without working extremely hard.

A large market consisting of ten million home owners that use lawn care services awaits for the person who likes to work outdoors and has a green thumb. Not only individuals, but larger clients, such as business parks, apartments complexes, shopping malls and hospitals may require services in the field. Simply put, the lawn care business offers great opportunities for those who dare to enter the market.

The Basics

Anyone who wants to start up a lawn care business will benefit from attending trainings and seminars offered by many institutes in the United States. Courses are organized on modules that cover all the basics for starting up a business. The basic knowledge provided includes details about lawn care business and the legal aspects. The financial oriented courses teach how to determinate the start up and operating costs.

Basic Costs

A lawn care business does not require a huge investment. A small lawn mower is actually enough to start a small, part time lawn care business. Other lawn care equipment can be purchased at a later time, such as when a solid client base is formed.. The great thing about starting up a lawn care business is that there is really no need to invest in expensive lawn care tools in the beginning.

Services to Offer

A lawn care package can include services like mowing the lawn, fertilizing, sprinkling pesticides, aeration, removing leaves, landscape lighting, over seeding and so on. The purpose is to help the lawn owners in keeping their lawns in good conditions.

Part Time or Full Time

The lawn care business can be treated as a part time or as a full time occupation. The great thing about it is that it allows a flexible schedule for the business owner. Lawn care means providing services to clients, but the business owner has the freedom to take a holiday whenever he needs to.

Students can opt for a part time job in lawn care, but even on full time basis, the business is still very convenient. A lot of information on starting a business in lawn care services can be found on the Internet, as many websites can teach their visitors how to handle the legal aspects, how to close contracts with clients and other useful aspects regarding this industry.

Lawn care is not exactly a very simple task and, therefore, some piece of advice on taking care of the lawn can be very useful. A beautiful lawn can be obtained after many efforts and work, but the result can also be a well grounded reason of pride. Lawn care consists of many activities that are scientifically based.

Tips for Mowing

When mowing the grass, it must be noted that the height should remain about two thirds of the original length. Leave the clippings because they contain many nutritious substances for the lawn. The tool used for mowing must be of good quality; use a mower with a sharp blade because a mower with dull blade can shred and tear the grass, exposing it to pests and diseases. Change mowing patterns to make the grass grow better and more healthy.

Tips for Watering

Watering is very important in lawn care, as the grass requires a certain quantity of water per week. Watering should not be performed in the same way all around the year, but it must be done alternately depending on the season conditions. When raining, excess of water makes the lawn prone to disease. For better irrigation, using automatic devices is best because the lawn will receive consistent watering. If this operation is done too frequently, the grass may become weak.

Tips for Weed Control

The problem faced by every type of lawn is weed. Weed grows in almost any conditions. To control the weed in your lawn, mow, water and filter your lawn properly. If the mowing process leaves the grass too short, if watering is problematic or if fertilizing is not done the way it should, the lawn can be covered by weed. Some herbicides can help keep the lawn free from such problems.

Tips for Fertilizing

As watering and mowing, fertilizing must be carried out in the right conditions and in the appropriate amount. When handling such an operation, keep in mind the needs of your lawn. Watering after fertilizing increases the positive effects. For better result, spread the fertilizer all over the lawn’s surface.

A healthy, green looking lawn is the result of proper care. Regarding pests and diseases, it is best to use pesticides at the right moment and in the right amount.

It is common knowledge that people who own lawns need to face a lot of issues prior to seeing their desired output.  Therefore, before doing any work related to the lawn care of your personal home garden, certain factors need to be attended to first. 

The most basic requirement is identifying if you have sufficient area for your lawn. The journey does not end here. Even when this requisite is fulfilled, you are still faced with a lot of issues, most of them are related to lawn maintenance.

Knowing Your Way around Lawn Care

The fact is there are no shortcuts in working around some basic projects.  The trick in minimizing the amount of work needed is to concentrate on the major lawn areas that are most noticeable to people.  If you are vying for “Lawn of the Month,” invite out-of-towners over. Otherwise, you might just be wasting your time looking for grass overgrowth.  Also, consult your lawn care service provider. 

In creating a layout for your lawn, cut around the yard once to make the outline visible.  Then, cut lengthwise, strip by strip, until the other end is reached.  Next, start edging as this would make your lawn look manicured.  You may use a manual or automatic edger to make the job quicker.  Be sure to clip the greenery, like shrubbery, bushes, and trees, in your yard that us mostly visible from the street.

Use of Fertilizers rather than Pool Water

A lot of easy ways are available to address lawn care problems.  For the purpose of watering, never drain all the pool water into your lawn.  Doing so is a big mistake because chlorine will totally destroy the grasses. In lieu of this, you may use fertilizers that are comprised of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.  These chemicals help your lawn increase and maintain its green color.  After all, the measure of lawn quality is largely dependent on its color.

A lot of unpleasant surprises for your lawn can come from your dog. Its urine and feces are not especially good for your lawn due to their chemical characteristics. Large quantities of dog urine and feces can cause the lawn to become burnt.

How Dog Waste Affects Your Lawn

The high amount of nitrogen in dog waste is very bad for the lawn. Dog urine causes the most damage as it is released at a high quantity at a time, unlike feces that can be slowly absorbed in the ground. Also, dog feces can be removed quickly because they are very visible, but urine is not so easy to clean.

Another cause for lawn damage is a dog’s habit of marking all surfaces with urine. Lawn experts call the brown spots that appear on the lawn where the dog has released its waste, the “female dog disease.” There are types of lawn grass that are more resistant than others to the action of nitrogen in the dog waste. For instance, it is preferable to use Festuca grass rather than Cynodon grass when the owner has a dog.

Dealing with the Problem

The best thing that a dog owner can do to protect his lawn from the catastrophic effects of dog waste is to teach his pet that the lawn is a playground, not a toilet. Another measure that can be taken is to build a small fence around the lawn to keep the dog off the lawn. Another solution is to change the dog’s diet to make the urine less concentrated with nitrogen, but this is not advisable, as veterinaries do not approve of it and the result is not always the desired one. 

Treating a Damaged Lawn

When the lawn has been damaged by dog waste, it is advisable to take a little extra care for making the lawn return to its initial stage. There are intensive treatments for this, like using gypsum or lime on the burnt areas. This way, the burns fade in time and the lawn recovers. Other measures to take are supervising the dog when on the lawn and watering the urine spots right after they are made to dissolve the nitrogen. The affected areas can also be seeded again.

In order to solve the problem, it is recommendable to use, in the same time, a training plan for the dog and to undertake the appropriate measures for the affected lawn.