Winter Lawn Care Tips

Everybody knows that a beautiful lawn needs to be maintained in the summer. However, do you know how to maintain your lawn in winter? What lawn care steps should you follow? Read on to know how:

Do you know the ideal height for your grass to be kept for winter when you last use the mower each fall?

The health and strength of your grass will be affected by many factors in the dormant period. You need to understand how conditions, grass height, and proper care can affect the health and appearance of your lawn when spring comes around. Find out when your grass stops growing and how much to cut before winter. Also, learn how to keep your grass green in winter.

Is grass able to grow in winter?

Some people believe that the last mow is after the snow melts, while others think it’s in the fall. What is the end of grass growth? Is grass able to grow in winter? If the temperature is right, winter grass can actually grow. Even though the temperatures are above 55 degrees during the day, grass will continue to grow. Depending on the year, this can be extended into November.

Why is it better to have shorter grass in the winter?

Long grass isn’t the best choice for winter and it certainly doesn’t go well with lawn care in Conway during winter. Long grass is a food source for small animals and insects, like voles. They will eat the snow-covered grass throughout winter. Your lawn is at risk for disease and provides a place for bacteria and mold to thrive. This could put your grass at high risk of diseases like snow mold.

Excessive water, thatch, and debris can cause snow mold. The dampness and cold create a breeding ground for disease. This can be avoided by cutting your grass back in winter.

How long should you trim grass before winter?

It is important to choose the right height of grass for winter. A bad cut can put stress on the plant. Cut your grass too short and cold weather can cause damage to the roots and leaves. Your grass could become ill if it is too long. Winter grass should be between 2 and 2.5 inches in height. This allows grass to grow short enough to resist disease spreading, but not too short that it is stressed by the cold. You can reduce the height of your mower blades as temperatures drop and growth slows down until they reach this ideal length. This is the height you should be mowing your lawn at the end of the fall season.

How to keep your grass green in winter

After you have determined the right height for your winter grass cutting, you might wonder if you should fertilize. Your lawn can be affected by the harsh winter weather. It’s important to prepare your lawn for the cold weather because your grass will go dormant. Fall is the best season to fertilize your grass. Fall is the peak season because the plant is actively growing its roots. To keep your lawn green and healthy, fertilize it in the fall. You can help your yard retain its color and vibrancy through the winter by doing a little bit of advanced treatment.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service for your landscaping and lawn care needs.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

Lawn Care Tips For Every Season

Nothing beats the sensation of stepping onto a newly mowed lawn barefoot. A well-maintained landscape almost always provides a 100% return on investment. To make sure that you have a lush lawn from spring to fall, you need to know some lawn care tips you need to know.

Lawn Care Tips

Like all other maintenance jobs, everything will go smoother and you will get much better results with the proper preparation. It is one of the most important things you need to remember about lawn care.

When it comes to lawn care Conway, you need to sharpen your blades for you to make clean cuts. Using a dull blade will tear the grass and leave jagged edges that will discolor the lawn and lure pathogens. You should tune up the mower by adding a new spark plug and replacing the air filter. Your mower may not be new every season but changing these two components is easy and offers great results. Don’t forget to buy fresh gas because using one that has been left to sit over winter may have already accumulated moisture that would harm small engines. Then clean up your lawn. Grab your leaf rakes and get rid of leaves and twigs that may have accumulated in your yard over winter.

Spring

Based on your weather, your grass will begin growing so you have to be prepared for your first cutting. Do not mow if the grass is wet because you could spread diseases plus, wet clippings could clog up your lawn mower.

Spring and fall are two of the best seasons to fertilize your lawn. In the northern third of the country, where winters are cold, you need to fertilize during the fall season. Cool-weather grass will go dormant during winter and it will store energy in its roots for use during spring. For the other places in the country, add fertilizer when your grass starts its most active growth.

Aeration will punch tiny holes in your lawn so that water, oxygen, and fertilizer will reach the grassroots. Choose a day when the soil is damp but not too soaked so that the aeration machine could work efficiently. You should also apply pre-emergent herbicides to stop crabgrass as well as other weeds from starting to take root in the lawn.

Early Summer

During early summer, you need to be on the lookout for grubs. This is the time when they appear. When the grass is starting to grow fast, you should cut more than once a week to maintain it. Use a golden fork to get rid of any weed that may have escaped herbicide application. In case things are getting out of hand then you should use a post-emergent herbicide.

Summer

Always remember that taller grass has deeper roots, fewer weeds, and more moisture the soil takes in between watering. To make sure that you have a healthy and green lawn, be sure that you set your mower blade to a height of 3 inches and water deep and infrequently because it promotes shallow growth of the root.

Fall

Your primary job during fall is to make sure that your lawn is free of leaves and debris. This is what you need to do when it comes to lawn maintenance for the fall. You can use your mulching mower to break the leaves up and add organic matter to your soil. However, you need to make sure that you clean up all the clumps so they do not kill the grass.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service for all your lawn care needs. Our team is ready to assist you all year round.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

Winter Lawn Care: Caring For Dormant Grass

After nine months of lawn care and attention, winter is the time to relax and make sure your grass stays healthy and happy. Winter lawn care is easier and less complicated than spring, summer, and fall. However, it’s important to be aware of what happens to your grass in these months so that you can have a healthy year.

This guide will show you how to maintain your lawn during winter, peak season, and spring. While winter may appear different in every area, your soil and grass will reach their lowest–or dormant-—a growing season when the temperature drops.

Warm-Season vs. Cold-Season Grasses

Winter lawn care is often associated with colder states, where the soil freezes and the grass goes dormant for almost three months. Not all lawns behave the same throughout winter. For example, in the tropical and deep south, grasses that are warm-season can remain lush and green even if temperatures stay steady.

These warmer climates allow warm-season grass growers to follow many of these fall lawn care tips through the cooler months, such as pulling weeds and overseeding with warm-season grasses and keeping an eye out for thatch and compacted dirt. These lawns can be watered up to an inch per week.

Most warm-season grasses become dormant in winter, although some may go dormant as early as late fall. Because they are less resistant to sudden drops in temperature, they are particularly vulnerable. These instructions differ from those for the summer, fall, and spring seasons.

How to prepare for dormancy

It is easy to worry that your grass will die in winter. The grass will survive the winter if it is the right grass for your area.

When the temperature or moisture level of grass drops below a specific level for a prolonged period of time, it goes dormant. The plant can conserve energy and reduce its use during dormancy, which allows it to save energy for next spring. The summer’s rich green color of the summer grass will not be retained by dormant grass. Between the green will be yellow and brown blades.

Winter Care for Early Winter Lawns

The arrival of the first frost will have a significant impact on lawn care during this transitional period. This may arrive in December, but not always in certain areas, particularly those that are located in the transitional zone.

This means that many of your late-fall lawn care tips could spill over into winter, especially if they weren’t taken care of sooner. These first few weeks of winter are a good time to complete a few tasks that feed and support grass before the coldest months.

1. Fertilize One Last Time

The most difficult decision for homeowners is when to apply the final fertilizer layer. This should be done before your grass goes dormant, and after you have finished your last mow.

2. Change your Mowing Schedule

You’ll likely have lowered your mower blades by late fall to cut your grass for winter. You should still leave at least two inches for your grass to root in the spring with stability. However, it doesn’t have to flourish as it did in summer.

You should be aware of when your grass stops growing. It may be hard to notice, as a random frost or snow coating may not cause your grass to stop growing. It is safe to remove your mower once it has stopped growing for the year.

3. Reduce watering

It is not necessary to water your lawn as often in the northern regions, especially during rainy autumns and snowy winters. Reduce your watering frequency if you experience severe drought in the fall to apply half an inch of water every two weeks, instead of an inch every week.

Run a loose rake over your lawn before watering it. This will allow the soil to be broken up and bring more water to the roots.

After draining the hoses and pipes, you can close your sprinkler system for winter if it hasn’t been done. Your hose will not be required until March next year unless there is a significant precipitation drop for several weeks.

Mid-Winter Lawn Care

Your grass can be allowed to rest during winter if it has fully fallen into dormancy. Most grasses can handle cold weather well enough to store energy for the next warmer season. It’s important to allow your lawn to do its thing while you wait.

There are some mid-winter tips you can use to help your lawn stay healthy, especially during heavy snowfall.

1. Reduce Foot Traffic

Your grass will survive the winter freeze. However, it is best to allow it to grow naturally without too much interference. Avoid walking on your lawn in winter to reduce pressure.

You should also avoid placing heavy equipment on your lawn. It will be more difficult for the roots to spread in spring when the ground starts to thaw.

2. Take Care with De-Icers

Even if your lawn is covered with snow, sidewalk salt or other deicing chemicals can cause severe damage to it.

Salt on your walkways and steps can cause problems. The salt then gets onto your grass. This can be avoided in certain circumstances. However, it is important to not spread salt too close to the cement’s end to prevent turf damage.

Although grass can usually bounce back from salt damage in spring, you might notice yellowing or browning around its edges for several weeks.

3. Keep up with the debris

Although there may not be any leaves left on the trees, snow and branches can still be found throughout winter. Clean up your lawn after each defrosts to prevent any displaced stones or branches from reaching your soil.

Late Winter Lawn Care

Now is the best time to start planning for next year’s lawn maintenance plan. Late winter temperatures can be warm enough to bring out the mower, aerator, and hose depending on where you live.

1. Get your Lawn Care Plan in Place

This is a great time to take a step back and look at the areas where your lawn has struggled in the past year. You spent a lot of time trying to fight lawn fungus. Do you need to treat your lawn for pests and weeds? Your next season will be easier if you use a better fertilizer, a seed mix, or lawn tools.

2. Eliminating the Last Snow Piles

During the winter months, snow and ice tend to build up and stick to lawns in certain areas. To melt them faster and more evenly, break up the thicker snow and ice patches and spread them out more evenly.

This protects the grass beneath these heavy snow piles from compaction as well as the risk of fungus if the weather suddenly gets warmer.

3. Do not move too quickly

It can be tempting to rush into lawn care when the last weeks of winter are over and your grass has cleared of any snow. To avoid stressing your grass, give it time to rest and let it go dormant.

It will appear that your grass needs immediate intervention at this point. However, it is just storing the last bits of nutrients until it wakes up when the soil thaws. You should wait for the late winter’s dampness to pass before raking your lawn. This will allow the soil to dry completely.

Avoid mowing, fertilizing, or overseeding your lawn before spring. This is best in most cases.

4. Prepare Your Tools

Spring is a great time to get out your lawn maintenance tools and make sure they are ready for the busy season. You can take your mower to a local landscape specialist for a sharpening, refueling, and all-around tune-up.

Grab your tools and make sure they aren’t rusted or damaged from winter. You can also check to see if you have any other tools that could simplify your life for the next year.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service now if you need help in maintaining your lawn.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

Holiday Lawn Care Tips – Keeping Your Grass Green

Warm-season grass will turn brown as soon as the temperature drops below 55℉. However, it’s possible to keep your lawn green all year round because most regions don’t get deep snow or long freezes. Here are some lawn care tips to achieve year-round green grass:

7 Best Tips for a Green Lawn

Overseed

It is simple and efficient to overseed your warm-season grass lawn with cold-resistant grass. This will help you maintain a green lawn through the winter months. The cool-season grass that you planted in autumn will flourish as your warm-season grass becomes dormant in colder weather. The cool-season grass will go dormant when it gets warmer, just as the heat-loving grasses come back to life.

Get Rid Of Leaves

Fallen leaves and other debris can block sunlight and cause your grass to become unhealthy. This can lead to unhealthy grass and dead spots. You must be diligent in the fall to maintain a green lawn throughout the winter months. Mulch or rake leaves quickly. Avoid letting them pile up for longer than a few days, especially if they are wet. Mulching fallen leaves can help you save time and increase your lawn’s nutrients and keep your lawn healthy . You can mow the fallen leaves several times until they are finely chopped. These leaves will quickly decompose and can be used to feed your grass.

Fertilize Your Lawn

Most experts consider fall to be the best season to fertilize your lawn. It will prepare your grass for next year and keep it in great condition throughout winter. Use a slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer. The growth of grass blades is accelerated by nitrogen, as well as the speed at which any grass clippings or mulched leaves are decomposed. Studies show that winter fertilization is beneficial even if you missed the fall fertilization window. You can feed the roots all year round by fertilizing them right before the frost or freeze.

Aerate

Summer heat can often bake moisture from the ground, causing it to become compacted and making it harder for grasses and other plants to grow strong roots and take nutrients from the soil. Aerating decompresses the soil, which results in better fall and winter grass growth as well as greener coloration. You can rent a plug or core aerator at your local hardware store, and you can aerate in late fall or early winter when the ground has not frozen. This will allow for root growth and allows water and nutrients to penetrate the ground. You could also contact Conway Lawn Care Service to get professional lawn care services.

Continue To Water

It is essential that your grass receives enough water to stay green throughout winter. Winter lawns can’t be left alone. Winter droughts can quickly turn grass brown. Grass requires less water in winter than they do in summer, however. This is because there is more natural precipitation and water evaporates slower in cooler temperatures. Cut your watering schedule in half. Reduce the amount of watering you do by only doing it once a week. If you find that this isn’t enough and your grass starts to turn yellow or brown, increase your watering frequency slowly.

Use Lawn-Safe de-Icers

Salt kills grass. Salt kills grass if you are regularly deicing your driveway and steps. This is usually the reason for dead grass on paved areas.

Use Turf Colorant

Turf colorant is also known as grass paint. It artificially colors green dormant grass without causing damage to your yard. Turf colorant is an effective way to bring green winter grass to your yard if all other options have failed. A good turf colorant will cover large areas of your yard quickly and cost-effectively. It can be used on the entire yard or in areas that are prone to browning. Use a backpack sprayer or pump to apply the turf colorant. The turf colorant will not harm brown grass because it is not photosynthesizing and does not go dormant. You can simply mow it in spring when doing landscaping and let the new, green grass grow in its place.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service today if you need professional lawn care services.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

Holiday Gift Ideas: Lawn care is the Gift That Never Stops Giving

There are people in our lives that we struggle to buy for. It’s the same struggle every year and you end up buying slippers. Give them something they can use again and again. Consider lawn care services. Lawn care maintenance is a gift that can make their upcoming year stress free.

Lawn care companies offer more than lawn mowing. They also offer snow removal, mulching, fertilizing, landscape, hardscape, and fertilizing.

Why Give Lawn Care As A Gift

Lawn care

The first step in our lawn maintenance program is to make sure that your lawn is free from litter and other debris. Conway Lawn Care Services can also remove any tree limbs that could damage your mower or make it difficult to mow. Our lawn care specialists will ensure that your yard looks professional. Our lawn care experts arrive on-time each week with the most up-to-date equipment so that you get the best cut or edging.

Weed Control

Our lawn care program also includes weed control. Even if your yard is perfectly mowed, a few weeds could ruin it. We are experts at keeping weeds out of your yard.

Weeds that are most prevalent in Conway lawns include:

• Bindweed
• Sick Weed
• Johnson Grass
• Flower Weed
• Quackgrass
• Thetles
• Dandelions
• Crabgrass
• Nutsedge

To prevent weeds from sprouting or seeding in the summer, we tackle them early in the season. We can reduce the amount of weeds that will sprout next year by continuing to monitor and tackling weeds through the summer and fall.

Fertilizing

It’s time for you to ensure that your grass is healthy and strong after weeds have been removed. Healthy grass can fight invasive weeds by itself. Each fertilizer program we offer is tailored to meet the specific needs of your lawn. Our programs are performed by lawn care professionals with years of experience who know what they’re doing. The standard package includes five treatments that are spread out over the year and begin in early spring. The pro package contains seven treatments that are spread throughout the year.

Hardscaping and Landscaping

Add some landscaping or hardscape features to your yard and take pride in it. This is a wonderful gift for someone who enjoys entertaining outdoors. We offer many landscaping and hardscaping services.

Tree Pruning & Trimming

Your trees will look and feel great if it’s pruned and trimmed regularly. We can remove diseased and dead limbs, while keeping the natural shape of your ornamentals.

Mulching and Planting

Are you looking for new shrubs and trees to plant? We can help you plant them. We also offer mulching services.

Fire Pits

We can make custom-made fireplaces in a variety of styles and types. We can help you create the ideal outdoor entertaining space.

Snow Removal

Snow shoveling can be difficult and even too hard for seniors. Clear driveways are the ideal gift for someone who doesn’t want to shovel the snow by themselves.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service now if you’re thinking of giving lawn care services as a gift to your friends or loved ones.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

How to Prepare Your Lawn for the Holidays

It can be fun to decorate and prepare for the holidays. Holiday decorating supplies have become more expensive and larger over the past two decades. You can now find items that used to be only available in drive-thru displays on the lawns of many residential homes. The season has transformed lawns that were once drab due to lack of use and are now thriving. How can we prepare our lawns to welcome the holiday season? Here are some lawn care tips you need to know.

Lawn Care Tips For The Holidays

Our lawn can be laden with leaves and other debris during the fall season. It is a good time to winterize the landscape since there is no growth. Clean out dead leaves and clean out gardens and annuals. Dead or dying plants can litter flower boxes and under shrubbery. You can remove the plants that are not going to return in spring and cut back perennials that will.

Remove Dead Leaves

You can rake or mulch the leaves. Leaves on lawns can lead to mildew and fungus. Visitors to your home can also slip on leaves that are left on the lawn. You can either dispose of them in compost or bag them and then dispose of them according to your local regulations. You may have to do this several times during the fall.

Fall Fertilizing

This is the best time to fertilize. The fall fertilizer will help keep your lawn greener for a longer period of time, and will also make it greener earlier in the year. Many lawn care experts provide fertilization services. They will use the right fertilizers for every season. This simplifies the process for homeowners and allows you to spend more time holiday shopping.

Aerate and Mulch

Another key to a healthy lawn is aeration. This allows nutrients, air, and water to reach the roots. This is great for lawns with high traffic and lawns with holiday decorations.

Mulch should be removed. Apply a layer of mulch to your flower and vegetable beds to keep them protected. This will encourage the spring buds to grow. Any weeds that remain in the fall can be choked out by fresh mulch.

Mow Your Lawn

Late fall is a good time to take your mower out and trim your lawn about 1-2 inches shorter than the growing season. The final mow should take place when your grass has stopped growing in the winter.

Keep Decorations Away From The Lawn

You might consider decorating the walkways and sidewalks of your holiday party home. You can guide your guests along the walkway by placing candy canes and lights strung together. This will avoid foot traffic on your lawn. When the lawn is heavily used, it can be more vulnerable to damage and matting. Hire a lawn care expert if you need help maintaining your yard.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service us now if you’d rather spend time with your loved ones than work on these lawn maintenance chores.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

Tips to Keep Your Lawn Healthy

Do you have a new lawn? If so, then you should know the keys to maintaining the health of your grass. New lawn care involves three main components: water, mowing, and traffic.

Lawn Care: Watering

New lawns should be watered daily during their first few weeks. This is crucial in new lawn care. Daily watering will help the roots to get established. Keep the turf very moist. If you are experiencing a drought in your area, or if you live in a very hot climate like we have experienced in Conway, you may need to water your new lawn twice a day.

While the key to new lawn care in Conway SC requires keeping the turf moist, you should not overwater your new lawn to the point where it is a wet, muddy mess. Try to not saturate the soil. If puddles are forming in your lawn, you are watering too much. Too much water in the soil can keep the roots of your new grass from achieving deep roots.

If your grass starts to take on a gray color, it is telling you that it is not getting the water it needs. A quick way to see if your lawn is getting enough water is to use a knife or screwdriver to dig into the soil. The dirt should be damp to a depth of six inches.

Once your new lawn has passed the two-week time period, you can reduce watering to two or three times per week. How often you water your new lawn at this stage will depend upon your environment. A new lawn in a dry climate or in an area that is experiencing significant drought may need to be watered four or five times per week.

Mowing Lawn Maintenance

New lawn maintenance for sod states that a first mowing can occur within three weeks of planting.

New lawn care guidelines for seeded lawns state that it may be eight weeks before mowing is needed.

Another key component to maintaining the health of your new lawn is to never mow your grass unless it is dry. Mowing on new, wet grass can pull the newly rooted grass out of the soil.

Never scalp your new lawn grass. It is better for your new lawn grass to be a little high than to be too short. By allowing your new lawn grass to grow a little high before cutting it will ensure that the grass is well-rooted and established before it undergoes the trauma of a lawnmower blade.

Traffic And Lawn Maintenance

You should try to limit the amount of traffic on your new lawn during the first few weeks after planting. While it is unnecessary to keep all traffic off of your new lawn, traffic should be kept to a minimum. You will not want your children riding bikes or playing ball on your new lawn grass.

A lawn that is not protected from high traffic can be damaged and die. Friction on the new grass can pull up newly established roots that are still weak. Reducing friction is important in new lawn care. If you’re not quite familiar, hiring a lawn care professional is the best option to take.

The best way to keep your lawn looking great in any season is to hire a professional lawn service. Call Conway Lawn Care Service for a lawn maintenance quote.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

Lawn Care and Maintenance Tips For Fall

Lawn care professionals know that the best way to have a healthy, thick, green lawn in spring is to care for it in the fall. In other words, do it now.

Homeowners make the same mistakes before their grass goes dormant and then wonder why it isn’t growing better the next year. Wonder no more. Conwy Lawn Care Service has a seven-step lawn maintenance plan to create a beautiful lawn for the next season.

Fall Lawn Care Tips

1. Take the leaves out

Although a carpet of autumn leaves can look great and fun, they are not good for grass. They block light and trap moisture which can lead to turf damage.

When the leaves start to fall, blow them off or rake them as much as possible. Continue raking the areas where the wind has piled leaves up, even after the trees have fallen. If you don’t do this, when spring comes, the grass beneath that soggy, decaying mat is dead.

2. Continue to cut, but at the right height

You shouldn’t put the mower away. The grass will continue to grow up to the first hard freeze, so you’ll need to cut it regularly to maintain a 2 1/2- to 3 inch height. It would mat and be at risk of getting damaged by fungi if it is allowed to grow too long. Mowing should be continued during this time of year.

Too short a cut is equally bad, especially for the root system. The root depth is directly proportional to cutting height. This also hinders the lawn’s ability and endurance to winter cold and drought. Regular mowing removes those annoying leaves by chopping them up and leaving behind soil-enhancing mulch.

3. Continue to water

Fall weather can cause people to stop watering their plants. People believe nature will take care of it. Although it is true that there is more rain, dew, and evaporation this time of the year, that may not be enough for grassroots to stay hydrated and healthy during winter. A simple rain gauge can be used to track how much water your lawn gets each week.

4. You can loosen the soil

Soil needs to be aerated at least once every two years to prevent soil from becoming dense and covered with thatch. Thatch is a thick layer made up of roots, stems as well as other debris that prevents water, oxygen, and nutrients from reaching the soil.

Core aerators correct both issues by punching holes in the thatch and pulling up soil plugs. It is a good idea for lawns to be aerated before fertilizing.

5. Add fertilizer

The grassroots require water to survive winter. They also need a boost of plant sugars to keep them warm and healthy. These sugars are made by chlorophyll which grass produces when there is enough nitrogen.

6. Seeds

A dense lawn is also good for weed control. This is why it is crucial to overseed the existing turf. This helps to fill in any bare spots or patches. It also allows you to introduce drought-tolerant, resilient grasses. Because the ground is still warm and moist, the nights are cooler, and the sun isn’t as intense during the day, fall is the best time of year to overseed. Overseeding can be a difficult chore, even in the fall.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service now if you need help maintaining your lawn.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/

How To Choose Fertilizers For New Lawn

Have you ever been to the lawn care and garden center and been confused about which fertilizer you need? There are many different formulations and brands of fertilizer for new lawns. The only way consumers can make wise decisions and purchase the right fertilizers for new lawns is to be able to understand the numbers on the bags.

Choosing Fertilizers For New Lawn

When you go to purchase fertilizer, you will see three numbers listed on the bags. These numbers are important. This numbers will tell you the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is in the fertilizer.

The first number that is listed on fertilizer bags is nitrogen. Nitrogen is good for lawns because it can really help to green up a dull yard. If you already have a mature, existing lawn, you will probably not need a high percentage of nitrogen in your fertilizer.

The second number that is listed on fertilizer bags is phosphate. Phosphate helps the grass seed to germinate and it promotes root health. New lawns will need an application of fertilizer that is fairly high in phosphate.

The third number that is listed on fertilizer bags is potassium or potash. Potash helps to strength lawn grass. Strong roots and healthy grass is the key to a great ground cover.

Conway Lawn Care Services recommends that you consider doing a soil test on your soil before you choose a fertilizer for new lawns. Having a soil test can truly save you money in the long run. Who wants to purchase fertilizer if it is not needed? Likewise, you may hurt your lawn by adding things to it that it does not need.

Lawn grass grows best when it is planted in soil that has a pH of 6.2 – 6.5. What this means is that your lawn grass will receive the most nutrients if it is planted in soil within this pH range.  Most soil tests will give you recommendations on what amendments or fertilizers you need to add to your soil to get it to the desired pH level. Soil tests will show you the levels of phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium that are currently in your lawn soil so you don’t make costly mistakes.

If you have cool season grass, such as Bentgrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Rough Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Creeping Fescue, Annual Ryegrass, and Perennial Ryegrass, you will want to fertilize your new lawn in the fall. The months between September and December are the best months for fertilization. This lawn care Myrtle Beach tip will promote root growth and help the grass to be tolerant to heat and drought in the summer heat. It will also help your grass to green up faster in the spring, which is a major plus.

If you have warm-season grass, such as Argentine Bahiagrass, Pensacola Bahiagrass, Common Bermuda, Improved Bermuda, Carpetgrass, Centipede, St. Augustine and Zoysiagrass, you should add fertilizer to new lawns in the spring and summer. The months between April and July are the best time to add fertilizer.

Not interested in fertilizing your lawn yourself? Give Conway Lawn Care Services a call today before the heat of summer is here.

Conway Lawn Care Services
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
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12 Fall Lawn Care Tips to Healthier Grass in Spring

Cool fall weather is a great time for lawn care and fertilizing, controlling and enhancing the appearance and health of your yard. You can make your yard lush and green when the temperatures rise again in spring by doing a little bit of work now.

Adjust your Mowing Height

In the fall, if you have raised the height of your lawnmower in summer to lessen heat stress to your lawn (roughly 3 inches is the best height for most grasses), then return it to its original height. To prevent your grass from getting mangled under leaves or snow, cut your lawn slightly in autumn. However, it is important not to cut the grass too short. A tightly cut turf will have fewer roots, which makes it easier for weeds to gain a foothold.

Make sure to give your grass plenty of water

You might want to water your turf deep a few times before the winter freezes if you have a prolonged summer drought. The lawn will transition into winter by getting a few deep soaks and moistening the soil for several inches before it freezes. The fall weather patterns will often change, and nature will supply the moisture. Watering in the morning is a good idea to limit evaporation.

Fertilize

If you are in the North, fall is the best time for fertilizing your lawn. Bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass are cool-season grasses and respond well to fertilization in September. Then again, in late October or November, for a second feeding. This helps them grow earlier and looks better in the spring. If they have not been overseen with winter ryegrass, it is best to avoid fertilizing warm-season dormant grasses in the South. An excellent option would be to hire professional fertilizing services since adding fertilizer can be a bit tricky.

Attack Weeds

Instead of using chemical herbicides for weed control, creating a lush, healthy lawn is the best way. Make sure to mow at the correct height and add fertilizer if necessary. If your lawn is in good shape, smaller weeds will be shaded. You can pull out larger weeds by using your weeding tool. Follow all label instructions and only use the weed killer to target the weeds that you are looking to eliminate.

Repair Dead Patches

It’s a great time to reseed thin or dead patches in cool-season lawns. You’ll have fewer weeds next year if you plant in autumn. The seedlings will be established before the arrival of hot, stressful weather. Mulch products that are embedded with fertilizer and seed are an easy way to fill in the gaps. Make sure you prepare the soil with a rake prior to seeding. Water new seeds frequently for at least two weeks to encourage rapid germination.

Lay Sod

Fall is the best time to sod or plant a cool-season lawn. You can sod quickly with moderate temperatures and plenty of moisture. High-quality sod is dense and dense and will not bear weeds. This is a quick and easy way to fix bare spots. You can water the new sod every day if conditions become dry.

Look for Thatch

The soil’s surface is covered with thatch, which is a layer made up of organic matter. Thatch is a layer of dead organic matter that forms near the soil surface. It can cause insect and disease problems, as well as damage from drought or cold weather. Overwatering your lawn too often or overfertilizing it can cause thatch. You can check for itch by turning a small area with a spade. A problem is only one inch of itch. You can remove more thatch if it is greater than that.

Get rid of excess thatch

Dethatching is the process of removing the thatch layer from the soil and cutting out any debris. This can be done with power rakes and vertical mowers, which can be rented at rental agencies and hardware stores. After one of these machines has been removed, you can use a hand rake to remove any remaining thatch. The thatch can be composted.

Test Garden Tip – Power raking or vertical mowing can cause damage to centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass. Make sure the knives are properly spaced to cut these grasses.

Aerate

Aeration can also be used to reduce thatch, improve drainage, and loosen the soil. The most popular type of aerator is the core aerator. Core aerators are able to remove soil plugs or cores. This helps break up thatch and improve soil structure. Cores are left on top and will eventually fall off depending on rainfall, mowing, and traffic. Cool-season grasses should be aerated in the fall, and warm-season grasses should be aerated in the spring.

Use a topdressing

Topdressing is the process of adding a thin layer of compost to your turf. Topdressing improves the growing conditions by decreasing thatch and increasing organic matter. It also smoothens bumps in your lawn and reduces the need to fertilize. Apply 1/4-1/2 inch to 1/2-inch of high-quality soil all over the lawn. Be sure to target areas that are thinning. Before you apply the topdressing, make sure that your lawn is properly aerated and dethatched. Next, rake the soil to incorporate the topdressing.

Remove Fallen Leaves

You can remove fallen leaves by raking or mulching with a mower before they mat down and smother your lawn. Mulch-mowing mowers are great for shredding small amounts of leaves. The mulching mower also returns the shredded organic material to the soil. This is similar to topdressing. Mulch your lawn every few days in late autumn to keep it clean. If you find many leaves, rake them and then compost them.

Drain Irrigation Lines

Before freezing weather hits, drain the lawn’s irrigation system completely. The system can be emptied with compressed air, or you can use drain valves. To get the best results, turn off the water supply to the system and drain each area separately. Drain the main supply line to the house. Use an air compressor to maintain a pressure of 50 psi.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service today for all of your lawn care needs.

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Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/