Lawn Care: Growing Grass In The Shade

A beautiful swathe of lawn can be grown in a shaded area if you choose the right grass and care for it well. Here are some lawn care tips you need to know if you want to learn how to grow grass in the shade.

Turf grasses require at least four hours of direct sunlight to thrive, but some shade-tolerant grass mixes can survive in four hours of partial or dappled shade. The cool-season grasses that are shade-tolerant include rye and fine, tall fescues. St. Augustine and zoysia are two examples of warm-season grasses that can grow in shade. Here are a few tips about lawn care in Conway SC you need to know.

Lawn Care Tips

Pruning Trees

Pruning limbs can often lighten shaded areas under trees or tall shrubs. When pruning, make sure to reduce the canopy so sunlight can reach the grass below. It’s a good idea for trees to also remove lower branches, a process known as “limbing up”. You can raise the canopy of the tree and allow sunlight to reach the turf. You can do the pruning with just two feet. Talk to a certified arborist if you have mature trees.

Aerate

Soil aeration is a great option for shady lawns. It creates holes in soil and exposes the roots zone of the grass. These holes enable water, fertilizer, and air to reach the roots of the grass. The type of grass you have will determine when to aerate. Aeration should be done before the grass enters its peak growth phase.

Warm-season turf should be aerated in the late spring or early Summer, and cool-season grasses in the early Fall. Fall aeration should be done so that grass has four weeks of active growth before the average first frost in your area. A core aerator pulls soil plugs from the lawn for the best aeration. A digging fork can be used quickly and cheaply to aerate small areas. If the layer of thatch is thicker than 1 1/2 inches, it’s time to aerate.

Add organic matter

Shaded grass needs less fertilizer than grass in full sunlight. A thin layer of compost can be applied to shady lawns in the spring. Spread compost after you have aerated. Apply compost before overseeding thin, shaded turf. After it has been applied, the compost layer should be thin enough to still see the grass blades. Spread it using a push-broom and between grass plants.

Select the right Grass Seed

Quality grass seed is worth the investment, no matter if you are sowing your first lawn or maintaining an existing thin one. Shade-tolerant grasses should be included in a quality seed mix. This way, if one type of grass fails, another can take its place. Quality grass seed labels should contain a minimum of one percent weed seed and a minimum of four percent inert matter. A germination rate of less than 70% is unacceptable for grass seed.

Use Drop Spreader to Overseed

Drop spreaders are great for controlling seed distribution if you are starting a shady yard from scratch. To ensure adequate seed coverage, overlap each pass. Broadcast or rotary spreaders are ideal for seeding in shady areas. A drop spreader will cost you more, but it is worth the money if your lawn is typical suburban-sized.

Know When to Drink Water

Shaded lawns don’t require as much water as sun-drenched turf. Shaded lawns are less likely to need watering than those that have overhead trees. You can’t always rely on rain making it through the tree canopy to soak your soil. Tree roots are also competing for water. You can encourage the formation of deeper roots by watering your grass regularly but not too often. This is crucial for shady grass to thrive.

Do not overcut

Shaded areas should be kept 1/2 inch higher than the sunniest parts of your yard. This allows each grass blade to have more space for photosynthesis, which is what fuels grass growth. Avoid mowing shady areas of lawn as they can often not recover. This happens most often during the first spring mower mowing. You should make a habit of changing the height of your mower every time you reach your shady section.

Fertilizing

Shaded lawns should receive approximately one-half to two-thirds less nitrogen each year than sunny lawns. Apply winterizer fertilizer in autumn at half the rate recommended for cold areas.

Spot-Spray Weeds

If you do have a problem with weeds, limit herbicide use to shady areas. Spot spray weeds when necessary. You want to minimize stress on the grass by avoiding herbicides.

Take a look at a Pathway

Reduce stress on the grass in shaded areas. Reduce foot traffic. To protect the grass and additional lawn maintenance, you might consider installing stepping stones and a simple mulch path. Avoid using the shady area as a playground for children. You should not allow your pets to use the area for toilet breaks. You can also vary the mowing patterns in shaded areas. They are more susceptible to ruts and compacted soil.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service now if you need help in taking care of your lawn.

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

Lawn Care: Watering Tips

It is crucial to know how long you should water your lawn. A lawn that is too dry or too wet can lead to a poor appearance and invite weeds. You can also increase your water bill by overwatering your lawn. It is worth getting a good idea of the amount of water that your lawn needs to stay green and healthy. You should consider your soil and the specific zone in which you grow. Here are some lawn care tips you need to know.

Lawn Care: Water requirements for lawns

Lawn grass requires approximately one inch of water per day. This number may vary depending on the soil type. Proper drainage is essential for lawns that meet their water requirements. A balance must be achieved in order to achieve drainage.

Your soil may be too sandy for water to flow through. If your lawn is in this type of soil, you should only give it one inch of water each week to keep it properly irrigated.

However, soils with too much clay will retain too much water. Grassroots don’t like to be in water all the time. This condition can lead to diseases.

Loamy soil is the best choice for drainage. It is rich in organic matter, which will allow for water retention and prevent waterlogging. Keep this in mind when it comes to lawn care in Conway SC.

How long to water your lawn

It is important to remember that lawn health does not depend on how often you water your lawn.

Answering the question, your sprinklers will need to run for approximately one hour to provide the required 1 inch of water each week. A good irrigation schedule can help you meet your lawn’s water needs.

Another lawn maintenance question is when to water your lawn. It doesn’t have to be one inch per week. Instead, water your plants for 30 minutes each day. Experts advise against watering more than that. For example, you should not water for 20 minutes each day. Too much watering keeps roots too close together. They will reach deeper for water if they are given less frequent watering.

You can affect how long it takes to water your lawn by the type of sprinkler that you use. The oscillating sprinkler attached to a gardenhose will take slightly more time as you need to move the sprinkler around (on large lawns). Because an automatic irrigation system covers the entire lawn at once, it will take less time.

Know When to Water Your Lawn

Early morning is the best time to water. The sun will be lower in the sky so there is less evaporation. This allows water to soak into the roots. The grass blades will need to dry completely before it gets dark. The greater chance of grass blades succumbing to fungal diseases, the longer they remain wet.

Artificial irrigation system should only be used to augment rainfall. If rain is imminent, it is raining, or just raining, you should not water your lawn

Artificial irrigation will not be required all year. When it is hot and/or active growing, grass needs one inch of water per day

For example, a cool-season grass in Northeast will need to be watered most often in the late spring, summer and early fall. To make up the fact that your grass is largely dehydrated during winter, continue to water through fall.

Signs that your lawn is either under or overwatered

Your lawn’s health can be affected by over-watering as well as under-watering. You might have problems with either extreme. It is possible to identify the problem areas of your lawn by looking at multiple areas.

Signs of under-watering

• The grass turns yellow.
• The grass is limp. The grass does not bounce back after being walked on.
• Signs of over-watering
• The grass turns yellow.
• In the lawn, there are often bare spots.
• The lawn is home to mushrooms.
• When you walk on the turf, it has a spongey texture.
• It is evident that there is runoff.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service now if you are looking for help in maintaining your lawn. Our team will make sure that it’s in top shape.

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

Lawn Care: Edging Your Lawn

Different people see grass in different ways. It can also be used as a ground cover for those who aren’t able to garden. It provides a clean, uncluttered surface that is essential for families where the lawn is used as a play area. It’s a place where you can walk from one point to the next. It also takes on an important role in your lawn care efforts.

For lawn enthusiasts, a lawn can be a masterpiece. Edging your lawn is the last step to make it stand out from your regular lawn. A sharp edge gives your lawn a defined look that really makes it stand out.

If you want the best lawn in the neighborhood, there are things you need to do as part of your lawn care routine. You’ll just have to do the work. This is how it works, and what tools are required.

Lawn Care: Are You Required to Edge Your Lawns?

No. Most homeowners do not edge their lawns.

It takes a lot of effort to edge a lawn. However, it is worth the effort for those who love well-maintained grass. This is not a job that you can do in one day. You must keep it maintained. Homeowners who want low maintenance lawns will look for alternatives like laying hardscaping elements.

Although it doesn’t improve lawn health or appearance, an edge can have many practical benefits. It prevents rhizomes and other pests from entering mulched areas.

How to Edge Your Lawn

Late spring is the best time to establish a border between a lawn or flower bed. After digging your trench, you can add mulch to the bed to give it a neat look.

Rhizomes can cross the trench and infiltrate your bed during the summer. You will need to “touch up” the edge and remove the rhizomes. It’s messy so it’s difficult to avoid getting soil on your mulch.

Before you get started

You should check for utility lines. These lines may be present where you will be digging. Use standard garden wear: garden gloves, heavy work boots, etc.

First, choose between power or manual tools when it comes to equipment. Although there are some power tools known as “edgers”, which may be preferred for large jobs, this project will use a manual tool. You can choose from a spade or a half-moon to use as manual tools. The latter is the best choice because it’s specially designed for this task. A flange, called a “depth protector”, runs parallel to the cutting blade of the unit and allows you to create a uniform trench. Before using the blade, sharpen it.

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

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

How to Choose the Right Sod Type for Your Lawn

Laying sod to create a new lawn is not the same as sowing seed. There are advantages and disadvantages to this method. Laying sod can give you a lawn in a matter of minutes. However, sod is more expensive than seed. Don’t let the immediate results of laying sod fool you. There are just as many preparations involved in laying sod than in sowing grass seed. Proper lawn care (primarily in the form of watering), should start right after you finish laying it.

There are times when homeowners feel they need a new grass and it is urgently needed (e.g., to sell a house). In these cases, sod may be the best option. The only problem is choosing the right type of sod can be overwhelming.

Lawn Care: How to choose the best sod for your lawn?

There are many factors that go into deciding the best type of sod grass for you. These include where you live, what you want to use your lawn for, and your tolerance of challenging conditions.

The climate determines which type of grass you want. Different people use the lawn differently. If you allow your dog to play on the lawn, it can cause damage. A lawn can also be damaged by dog urine. Lawns can also be damaged by human foot traffic. Some grasses are not as resilient to these stresses. Choose a type that is more resistant and best fits your lawn care in Conway SC.

Certain grass types are more resilient to certain conditions than others. You will need to maintain your lawn more often if your grass is unable to overcome these challenges. Some grass types are more tolerant to drought than others. Your grass will need more water if it is not tolerant to drought. Some grasses are more tolerant of shade than others. There are also those that may not perform well if you plant a grass that is sensitive to shade in a shady part of your landscape.

Here are nine varieties of sod that are commonly available.

Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

There are many types of ryegrass. Lolium perenne is a perennial ryegrass that you’ll need to consider when choosing ryegrass seed.

The downsides of cool-season grass include a need for more fertilizer and water, as well as a less attractive appearance. This cool-season grass forms clumps rather than spreading through stolons and rhizomes like other grass types. This characteristic can make your lawn look patchy, instead of smooth. Ryegrass is resistant to urine, dog traffic, and human foot traffic.

Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)

Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season variety that can withstand both human and dog traffic as well as urine and light shade. It requires more fertilization than other grass types. It is one of the most sturdy grasses.

Tall Fescue Grass, Festuca arundinacea

This cool-season grass is easy to identify. The topsides of this grass are their shiny and wide blades. It spreads mainly by seed distribution, rather than creeping. People looking for a uniform lawn will find it awkward because of its clumping, upright growth habits. It is resistant to urine, dog traffic and human foot traffic.

Fine Fescue (Festuca spp.)

Fine fescue is shorter than tall fescue. This gives it a fine texture and taller appearance. There are many types of fine fescue. All are cool-season grasses. Fine fescue is most prized for its tolerance of shade. It is drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and suitable for seacoast communities. It is a great low-maintenance grass that doesn’t require much fertilization. It is not able to withstand heavy traffic from dogs and people.

St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)

This warm-season grass is creepy and has a low habit of spreading. It can form dense mats. Its grass blades are flat and wide. St. Augustine grass can withstand salt, making it a great choice for those who live near the ocean. St. Augustine grass is also a great choice for Southerners who have shady areas in their yard. It is one of the warm-season grasses that are most shade-tolerant.

St. Augustine grass has another advantage: you don’t need to mow as often, which is something you will appreciate if your preference is low maintenance. However, it is not without maintenance. It thrives with proper irrigation and fertilization.

Zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica)

Zoysia grass spreads through stolons, rhizomes and leaves to create a dense mat. However, it can spread too freely and invade adjacent flower beds. You will need to remove the excess thatch to maintain a healthy lawn. This warm-season grass is tolerant to human traffic, dog traffic and urine.

Centipede Grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides)

This warm-season grass is not able to withstand human foot traffic, dog walking, or urine. It can tolerate acidic soil. It doesn’t require much fertilization or irrigation. In fact, its greatest asset is its low maintenance. It spreads by stolons and forms a thick mat which keeps the weeds down. This also helps to reduce lawn maintenance.

Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon)

Bermuda grass is tolerant of human traffic, dogs, and urine. It also has excellent drought tolerance and salt tolerance. It is also difficult to control and requires frequent mowing.

Bahia Grass (Paspalum notatum)

Bahia grass is also a good choice for acidic soils where you don’t need to increase the pH. Bahia grass can withstand drought. It is moderately resistant to foot traffic, dog traffic and urine.

Call Conway Lawn Care Service now if you need expert help in taking care of your lawn.

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