Factors that Affect How You Fertilize Your Lawn

Most folks are aware that fertilization is an important part of caring for your lawn, but many may not understand exactly why and furthermore, when it is most important to have your lawn fertilized. Seasonal fertilization is typically a part of professional lawn care services and are strategically timed so that your lawn reaps the benefits at the most necessary times. Fertilization affects everything from the color of your lawn to its ability to withstand extreme temperatures. Here are some reasons why fertilizer must be incorporated into your lawn care routine. harmful bugs such as grubs. However, different applications result in different benefits. For example, the pH, or the acidity, of your soil affects how the grass grows. Fertilization helps maintain the pH level at just the right level. Fertilizer, as mentioned before, also helps your grass develop a rich, deep green color which is brought about by nitrogen. Nitrogen also helps the grass blades grow quickly and sturdy. If you are dealing with new grass or you are trying to develop a new lawn, phosphorous will help establish grass seedlings and assist with how fast the grass grows. Potassium applications will help get your lawn through hot summers and bitterly cold winters. Once the temperature drops, it is time to think about how your lawn will recover once spring comes around again. An application of fertilizer in the fall months will help create a faster green up in the spring. While much of this information applies to most lawns, fertilization is not that easy. Many fertilizer treatments need to be customized based on several factors. The most obvious one is that not all grass is the same, which means some grass has different requirements than others. Another factor that comes into play is the temperature and the amount of precipitation your area receives each year. These need to be considered in order to determine the ideal time of year to apply the fertilization treatments. Different areas also have varied growing season peaks. Some grass may start to come alive in March, while in another part of the country it is possible the grass does not really start to grow again until late April. This rate of growth also has an effect on how much nutrients the grass needs. Lawns with a shorter growth season need less fertilization than one with a longer growth season. If this seems like a lot to consider, it is. That is why it is best to leave your fertilization treatments up to the professionals. Your lawn care technician has been educated on the best applications, the ideal times for using fertilizer, and the right concoction for your lawn’s specific needs. Products that are available at the stores are not custom blended, which means they could actually be doing harm to your lawn or may simply not be doing enough, which means buying these products is a waste of money. Call your local lawn care provider to find out more about customized fertilization treatments.

July 8, 2016

Why Fertilization is Important

When you stroll through your neighborhood, you may note that your neighbors’ lawns have a healthier look about them. You try to think about what they are doing that you are not. You mow regularly and at the appropriate height and time of day. You water your lawn just enough to give it a healthy drink rather than drowning it unnecessarily. You even pull weeds when they sprout up. So what gives? Why does their lawn look like it has been imported from the Emerald Isle and yours looks like…well, bad? The answer may be very simple – fertilization. Fertilizer is vital to every lawn because your grass needs to eat, just like any other living organism. You may assume that grass gets what it needs without any human interaction, and on some level it does. However, if left on its own, it also has to combat with other plants which may have a stronger pull when it comes to sucking the nutrients out of the soil. There is also the possibility that the soil is just spent and does not have any more to offer. That is where fertilization comes in! So why is adding fertilization treatments to your lawn care regimen important? Fertilizer supplies the sustenance your lawn needs during the peak growing season. Just like a growing child, the more food you give it, the more it can turn that energy into growing power and become strong at the same time. This durability is very important. A lawn that is properly fertilized will become resistant to a number of things, such as weeds, pest infestations, and disease. Weeds can be deadly to your grass, as they steal the water, air, and nutrients that should be intended for the grass’ root system. Pest infestations, such as grubs, can also be devastating. Unwanted pests will use your lawn’s root system for food. While it will not be obvious at first, the depletion of the root system will prohibit the grass blades from taking in moisture, oxygen, and food. Eventually the lawn will turn brown and the blades themselves will become delicate. The grass will also become susceptible to disease. Grass that has been strengthened by fertilizer has a better chance of staving off destructive pests and diseases as well. Fertilizer also helps grass stay resilient to traffic. Especially during the summer months, the lawn is often the “go-to” place for many activities, especially if you have children. Months of summer picnics, birthday parties, cookouts, etc. can have an adverse effect on your lawn. If you have pets, you may notice they tend to have their favorite places to go in the yard and will unwittingly create their own trail. Fertilized grass helps the lawn bounce back after these activities because it is full of life and healthy. These are just a few reasons why fertilizer is an absolute must when it comes to revitalizing your lawn care regimen. While you can try to figure out how to fertilize your own lawn, it should be handled by educated and experienced lawn care specialists. Your local lawn care companies will have a better understanding of what your lawn specifically needs, how much, and when. Too much fertilizer can be bad for your lawn, and fertilizing at the wrong times is just a waste of money. Call your local lawn care company today to learn more about the benefits of fertilization.

June 8, 2016

Lawn Care and Mowing Performance

It cannot be emphasized enough that your lawn mower may be one of the most important pieces of equipment you have contributing to the health and appearance of your lawn. Sure, feeding and hydrating your lawn, and weed control is important, but how your grass is cut and the status of the machine you use to undertake that task is also equally important. Here are some tips to make sure your lawn mower is performing as well as it possibly can, and also that you know how to properly maintain the machine itself. First thing is first – make sure the lawn mower you have is not a cheaply put together machine. It does not have to be the most expensive mower out there, but you want to make sure you are not getting something that will have problems or might break often. Once you have chosen the right mower for your needs, become familiar with it. Just like a car, you need to read and understand the owner’s manual so that if anything goes wrong, you can recognize the problem and know how to remedy it. At the beginning of every season (assuming you will not be mowing as much during the winter months), you will want to including checking the oil, spark plugs, and air filter. Again, the owner’s manual will be a great help in checking these areas so you know what to look for and what signs may be present letting you know there is something wrong. The oil should be a light color and should be free of any debris. If the oil is dark or contaminated, it should be drained and replaced. If the spark plug needs replaced, this is an easy fix. New spark plugs are inexpensive and can be easily replaced in no time at all. Lawn mower maintenance experts recommend replacing the spark plugs every 1 to 2 years. The air filter should be relatively clean. Just like the air filters in our cars and furnaces, a dirty air filter can lead to low performance. The filter should be switched out annually to ensure your machine is working at its best. There are some aspects of lawn mower maintenance that should be left to the professionals. Scheduling a tune up at the beginning of mowing season would be a good idea. They can and check the oil, but they can also look over other parts of the lawn mower and ensure everything is working as it should by performing diagnostic tests. They will also be able to sharpen your mower blades to ensure a precise, clean cut. Dull mower blades are bad for your grass because they rip and tug at the blade instead of slicing it, causing unnecessary trauma to your lawn. It is not unheard of to sharpen your own mower blades, but it is recommended to leave this specific task to the professionals. It may seem like a no-brainer, but cleaning the undercarriage of your lawn mower is also an important part of your maintenance routine. It is imperative that you make sure you disconnect the spark plug before performing this task. You do not want the mower to suddenly and unexpectedly start up while you have your hands in there. Once you have disconnected the spark plugs, use a wire brush to clear any debris. Finally, at the end of mowing season, perform a quick check on everything listed above before putting your machine away. You should drain the gasoline, leaving the tank empty during the off season and use fresh gasoline in the spring.

May 9, 2016