Hidden Costs of Lawn Care
A healthy lawn adds to your property value and provides a space for family and friends to gather. But there are many hidden costs involved with Lawn Care Kentucky.
A good lawn starts with a soil test. Your lawn specialist can recommend lab-approved soil amendments to improve the quality of your soil so that grasses can draw on the nutrients they need.
Lawn aeration, core aeration, or plug aeration is one of the best lawn care services you can provide for your property. The process pokes holes in the soil, loosening compacted soil and improving the flow of water, nutrients, and oxygen to roots. It’s like acupuncture for your yard, and it can be performed with a manual hand rake or a machine called a core aerator, which is often provided by lawn service companies.
Aeration, when combined with overseeding, will improve the health of your grass and help it compete better against weeds. Overseeding at the time of aeration will give new grass seed the chance to establish itself before weeds have a chance to crowd it out.
In addition to improving the quality of your turf, lawn aeration helps reduce thatch buildup, which can block vital nutrients from reaching the grass roots. A healthy thatch layer is beneficial in small amounts, but if it gets too thick, it prevents water, air, and fertilizer from getting to the root system.
Dethatching is a necessary part of lawn care, especially if your property has cool-season grasses that tend to produce thick thatch. Thatch is the intermixed layer of dead grass, stems, and debris that accumulates between active grass blades and the soil. While some thatch benefits the lawn, too much can inhibit important water and nutrient flow to the roots.
While lawn aeration can remove some thatch, it will not get rid of all of it, and should be used in combination with dethatching to provide the best results. You can check for thatch thickness by pushing a screwdriver into the ground. If you can’t push it more than 3 inches into the soil, you have thatch.
Dethatching is best done in the fall, when it gives the grass the chance to recover before the harsh summer sun causes stress. It is also the best time to overseed cool-season grasses, including fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. If you do not overseed, a pre-emergent herbicide can be applied to prevent pesky weeds from sprouting in the holes.
Irrigation
Irrigation is an important part of lawn care. The process of providing water to plants, especially when natural rainfall is insufficient or unreliable. This can be done by using irrigation systems like sprinklers, or even just a garden hose. However, irrigation should be done professionally in order to get the most benefit from it.
Irrigation can include soil health management, such as testing the pH of the soil and adding lime to ensure proper levels. It can also include seeding or overseeding the lawn to fill in bare spots or to add a newer grass variety with improved disease and insect resistance.
Aeration, dethatching and mulching are other essential parts of irrigation. Aeration reduces thatch and helps water, nutrients, and oxygen flow into the root zone of the grass. Mulching reduces weed growth, moderates soil temperature, and retains moisture. Pruning trees and shrubs are also part of the process, helping to maintain a healthy, aesthetically pleasing landscape.
In addition to these lawn health services, lawn care companies can help with other landscaping needs like edging, hedge trimming, and weed control. They can also perform outdoor trash and debris removal. And with efficient blowing services, businesses can maintain a clean, professional appearance for their customers and clients.
Lawn care specialists are trained to identify and correct potential problems before they get out of hand. Whether it’s a pest infestation or nutrient deficiencies, these professionals can address issues quickly and effectively. They can then provide recommendations for future treatment, ensuring that your lawn stays healthy and beautiful throughout the year.
Lawn care and irrigation are often handled by separate companies, but they work in tandem to keep your landscape thriving. Instead of making multiple calls and worrying about service overlap, you can sign up for recurring mowing, maintenance, treatments and sprinkler servicing all in one package. This saves you time and money while giving you the peace of mind that your lawn is always in good hands. Contact your local lawn care experts today to learn more about their services and the packages they offer.
Lawn Fertilization
Lawns need a variety of nutrients to thrive. Fertilizers provide these nutrients in a form the grass can easily absorb. The best lawn fertilizers are slow-release and balanced, meaning they provide a steady supply of nutrients without overwhelming the plants. The type of lawn fertilizer you need will depend on where you live and the type of grass you have. For instance, you’ll need a lawn fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to encourage spring growth and a lawn fertilizer with lower levels of phosphorus to prevent scorching during summer heat.
Ideally, you’ll also want to lime your soil or add elemental sulfur to make it less acidic. This helps the plants get the most out of the fertilizer you apply. It’s also important to remove any debris, such as leaves or twigs, before you fertilize. This will allow the fertilizer to reach the roots of the grass without getting washed away. You should also avoid mowing or fertilizing during rainy weather, as this can stress the turf and increase the risk of disease.
In most cases, the best times to fertilize are in early spring and late fall. The early spring fertilization will help the lawn re-establish its healthy root system after winter, while the late fall application will set it up for success as it goes dormant for the season.
When fertilizing, it’s important to follow the package instructions to prevent overfertilizing your yard. Over-fertilizing causes the buildup of organic material that can lead to root rot, and it can also harm the environment as excess nutrients run off into local waterways.
If you’re doing the lawn care yourself, it’s a good idea to invest in a spreader so that you can apply the fertilizer evenly across your lawn. You can find these at most home and garden centers. Many places also offer free spreaders with the purchase of a bag of lawn fertilizer. The ideal time to use the spreader is in the early morning, as this will minimize the amount of water that evaporates before it’s absorbed by the plants.
Weed Control
Weeds are troublesome and can be unsightly, but weed control is an important part of lawn care. Weeds may be grassy or broadleaf, and each type requires a different treatment plan. Grass-like weeds have long, thin leaves that look just like the turfgrass, making them hard to distinguish from the desired plant. Broadleaf weeds have broader leaves that are easy to recognize. The problem is that the weeds compete with the grasses for water and nutrients, which leads to poor lawn health.
Whether the weeds are annual or perennial, the first step in preventing them is to develop healthy turfgrass. A thick, dense lawn crowds out the weeds and blocks the sunlight that they need to sprout. A regular lawn maintenance program that includes proper mowing, fertilization, and watering encourages the development of strong roots and rhizomes and stolons that choke out unwanted growth.
Lawns that are over- or under-watered, poorly fertilized, compacted, or weakened by disease or insect pests will struggle to compete with weeds and may require more frequent herbicide applications. If the weeds are persistent, it may be necessary to use a pre-emergent or postemergence herbicide that kills the weeds but does not harm the desirable grasses.
Physical removal can also be effective, but it is labor intensive and requires careful attention to detail. For example, if you pull a dandelion, you need to remove the entire taproot or else it will quickly sprout again. If you use an herbicide, make sure to read the label and follow all instructions carefully.
A professional lawn care company will have the equipment and expertise to manage a complete lawn care program, including aeration, dethatching, soil testing, fertilization, weed control, mulching, and overseeding. The company will work with you to determine the schedule that works best for your lawn, based on its needs and the season. Depending on the season, you may need to have leaf and snow removal services as well. A professionally managed lawn can help you save time and money by eliminating the hassle of maintaining a weed-free yard.