Lawn Care
Scheduled maintenance program for fertilizing, weed control and pest management. We also include aerating, dethatching, topdressing and overseeding to be part of this program.
Fertilizing
Should be done at least three times per season. A fourth fertilization in fall helps put the lawn to rest and prepare for the harsh winter. Fertilizer is composed of three essential nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The ratios change for each application based on the time of year that the fertilizer is to be applied. As an example, in spring a higher nitrogen content is required than in the fall. Otherwise, if you are seeding or sodding, you will want to apply a higher phosphorous content to help establish strong roots.
Weed Control
This is done at least twice throughout the season, the first time in summer and the second time in fall. If your lawn has suffered from dandelions in the past, we also suggest a spring application. The summer weed control is performed to kill off broadleafed weeds that have recently germinated from the previous year, while the fall application is used to kill any new adult plants before they can release their seeds.
Crab Grass
An annual plant that spreads by seeds from the mother plant. An average adult plant produces up to 2,000 seeds each year. These seeds are dropped into the soil, ready to germinate the following spring. A Pre-emergent Crabgrass application in a timely manner will kill the seeds before they start to germinate. Pre-emergent crabgrass is applied by May 15 or as a rule of thumb, before the yellow blooms of the forsythia disappear. The pre-emergent control will not control other broadleafed weeds nor will the post-emergent control. The post emergent is used to kill the adult plants that were not affected by pre-emergent control. This will help by not allowing the adult plant to produce as many seeds for the following spring.
Insect Control
This must be timed perfectly to achieve success. Unfortunately insects can do a lot of damage in a very short period of time. A pre-scheduled program will help control this problem. The two most damaging insects are chinch bug and white grub. Normally one spray for each of these insects will get you through the season without any trouble. However, if you’ve had problems in the past, then a new product called “Merit” can be used earlier in the season. Please be aware that the chemical does not stay in the soil nearly as long as it used to, so unfortunately a single spraying will not eliminate both insects. To achieve maximum results, it is also very important to water your lawn thoroughly after each white grub application.
Vegetation Control
A non-selective herbicide is used to control weeds and undesirable growth through cracks in asphalt, gravel and interlock. Once sprayed, the weeds will die within 10 days and can then be left to breakdown. If the weeds are substantial, they can be pulled out. In a case where weeds are extremely overgrown, spraying of weeds may need to be repeated. The herbicide used is not a soil sterilant so the control will not affect any new seedlings below the soil surface. In most cases this is done at no extra cost when you have our weekly lawn maintenance program. Aerating is the process of removing cores of earth from lawns, allowing roots to “breathe”. It is done in spring or fall during a period of good growth. A lawn that is aerated regularly, at least once per year, will take water and fertilizers more easily and faster. It will also decrease the amount of water needed to keep the lawn healthy. Soil compaction is reduced and the thatch layer is broken up. The lawns are left less susceptible to insects and diseases. If aerating in Spring, complete the aerating before applying your pre-emergent crabgrass control.
Dethatching
This is done in spring or fall. The number of times you need to dethatch your lawn depends on how much thatch there is. If there is more than 1/2 inch of thatch buildup, dethatching is recommended. It will remove the majority of the thatch which will leave your lawn less susceptible to insects and disease. As a general rule, dethatching should be done every 2-3 years.
Topdressing and Overseeding
This is done in spring or early fall and needs to be perfectly timed. If your property has a lot of trees, you will most likely want to have your lawns touched up every year. In spring, seeding needs to be done before the leaves are out and before the lawns start the growth surge. In fall, seeding needs to be done when the lawn will be untouched by raking of leaves so you’ll want to seed before the leaves drop. The first thing you should look at is when the last time your trees were professionally pruned. It is important, even with shade seed, that the lawns get at least four hours of sunlight.