Weed Management for Lawns

Grass that is well-managed and vigorously grows will have weeds, but these are not a problem. To give your new lawn the best start, it is important to prepare the site and select turfgrass before you plant. Poor maintenance practices, such as improper irrigation or fertilization, can weaken a lawn and make it more susceptible to weeds. Compaction can also cause turfgrass stress and make it easier for weeds. Here are some weed management tips you need to know.

A weed control program that is integrated can help reduce weeds to a manageable level and eliminate large, unsightly patches. For most lawns or park turfgrass, total eradication is neither realistic nor necessary. However, with the right maintenance and care a lawn can become virtually free of weeds.

WEED IDENTIFICATION

Knowing the life cycle of weeds is essential for lawn care. In lawns, weeds can be divided into three general categories: grasses and sedges, broadleaves. Be sure to differentiate weedy grasses and similar-looking species of lawn grass.

WEED INVASION

Weeds can invade turfgrass that has been over- or underestimated in water, fertilized incorrectly, improperly cut, or is highly compacted. Weeds can also invade lawns that are weakened by insect pests or plant diseases. This is because the open spaces in these lawns make it easier for them to grow. The majority of weed invasions are preventable with good lawn maintenance and can be remedied by overseeding. Turfgrass-invading weeds are usually associated with certain conditions. Identification of weed species can give a clue to the problem that is causing the infestation and what you can do to reduce it.

Weed Management Before Planting

Prepare Your Site

The foundation of a healthy lawn is a site that has been properly prepared. Remove existing vegetation before planting and prepare the area. Irrigate the area to encourage weeds. Repeat this process with a shallow cultivating or application of nonselective (described below) herbicides such as clove oil or glyphosate. When using seed or sod, this is crucial.

Choose the Right Turfgrass for Your Area

Turfgrasses vary in their tolerance to extreme temperatures, shade, and drought as well as the amount of wear. The grasses are divided into cool-season and warmer-season grasses based on their preferred temperature and active growth periods.

NEWLY PLANT LAWNS: WEED MANAGEMENT

Even if the planting site is carefully prepared, weeds are likely to develop on a newly laid lawn. As soon as weeds appear, remove them by hand. It will stop them from reproducing seeds and spreading the invasion. Weeds can be controlled by timing irrigation, mowing and fertilization. Turfgrass roots are relatively short in the first few weeks following planting. They only reach the top few inches. Lightly water the roots to avoid soaking the soil. Water deeply and infrequently once the turfgrass is established to encourage healthy root growth. When the roots of the new lawn are well-established in the soil, mow it for the first time. Make sure that the soil is dry enough to prevent the turfgrass from being ripped out of the ground.

WEED MANAGEMENT FOR ESTABLISHED LAWNS

Irrigation

Many lawns have been watered in the wrong way. Weeds can invade turfgrass if irrigation is not done properly. Poorly irrigated grasses are home to weeds such as crabgrass, annual bluegrass, dallisgrass, and nutsedge. For a healthy lawn to be maintained, it is important that the water is evenly distributed. Sprinkler heads that are damaged, blocked, or placed too low or high can’t reach all parts of the lawn, and this may result in dead or dry spots.

Mowing

The height of mowing varies depending on the turfgrass species. Too short mowing can cause turfgrass to weaken and encourage weed growth. If some grasses do not get mowed, they can cause the thatch to build up and reduce water penetration, weakening turfgrass.

When grasses are growing, mow them more often. Standard guidelines suggest removing no more than 1/3 the blade of a leaf at a time. It can take a while for the grasses to recover if too much is cut at once. Weeds will have a chance to grow if this happens.

Fertilizing

Follow fertilization guidelines to maintain a healthy grass. Start a regular program of fertilization approximately six weeks after the planting. Lawns should be fertilized four times per year, while they are growing. However, the amount of nitrogen applied per application must not exceed 1 pound per 1,000 square foot.

Thatch

Regular thatch removal can help your lawn stay healthy and compete with weeds. Thatch is an organic layer that forms between turfgrass blades. It is perfectly normal to have a thin layer of thatch. This can even be beneficial, as it helps limit the germination of weeds.

Aeration

Over time, heavy traffic can compact the soil. Compacted soil restricts oxygen, water, and nutrients from reaching the roots. This causes turfgrass to grow slower and is more susceptible to weed infestations. Aeration can help reduce soil compaction. Aerating lawns that are on clay soils, or those with heavy foot traffic or equipment may be necessary several times per year. Lawns with less activity might only require aeration once or twice a season.

Hand weeding

Hand pulling weeds is not always necessary, if you maintain your lawn regularly and properly. Hand weeding can be very important in preventing infestations such as creeping woodsorrel, nutsedge, dandelion spurge, dallisgrass and bermudagrass.

Herbicides

Herbicides are not usually needed if your lawn is well maintained. Use them in conjunction with a good maintenance program and an integrated management plan. Not all herbicides are suitable for all lawn types. Before choosing an herbicide, you must first identify the weeds and turfgrass species that are causing problems.

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/

Lawn Care Tips: All About Fertilizer

Beautiful lawns do not just happen. They are carefully planned and designed. The creation of a lawn will never be complete without the use of fertilizer. There is a lot of confusion about fertilizers and their use. Here are some lawn care tips you need to know.

To choose the best fertilizer, you must first determine what nutrients your soil contains. This can be done by conducting a soil analysis.

The soil nutrients, whether you place them there or they occur naturally, work together to assist grass in achieving its primary goal. Photosynthesis is the primary purpose of grass. The process of photosynthesis is how grass produces its own food.

Photosynthesis occurs when the blades of the plant absorb sunlight, and the roots reach down into the soil in order to get the nutrients needed to perform their function. This is an oversimplification of a complex process. We will not go into detail.

If you don’t fertilize your lawn, it will be completely dependent on the nutrients in the soil. As you may know, the soil around many homes isn’t very good. Contractors rarely give much thought to the soil quality after a home is built. It doesn’t matter how the land is graded, as long as it is done correctly.

Lawn Care Tips

MICRONUTRIENTS & MACRONUTRIENTS

To stay healthy and perform essential plant functions, lawn grasses require several micronutrients as well as macronutrients.

What is in lawn fertilizer?

What is in fertilizer, you ask? The three numbers on the bag of fertilizer represent three macronutrients: Phosphorus (in that order), Nitrogen and Potassium.

The three numbers on the bag are the most important nutrients for grass. The other nutrients are still important for the health and life of the grass.

The numbers on the bag indicate the weight percentage of each element.

Types of Fertilizer

The most common type of synthetic fertilizer is liquid. It also comes in granular form. Granular fertilizers require less equipment and are easier to use. You only need a rotary spreader or a drop spreader.

Liquid Fertilizer

Unless the liquid lawn fertilizer is a small hose-end type like Miracle Gro, it may require special equipment for application. The majority of liquid fertilizers are only available to professional companies, due to the high cost of equipment needed to quickly cover large areas.

For small lawns, you can also use a backpack or hand-held sprayer. You can buy 10 or 20-gallon sprayers in your local farm and home shop for larger lawns. The majority of sprayers require a 12-volt battery.

Which is the best liquid or dry fertilizer? Both perform about the same. Only licensed professional lawn care experts can purchase this expert-grade fertilizers, but there are many varieties available for homeowners.

When used on turfgrass the effects of fertilizers are not as bad as once believed.

All-Mineral vs. Slow Release Lawn Fertilizer

Not all fertilizers, however, are the same. Some fertilizers are called “all mineral”, meaning that all elements are released as soon as the water is applied.

Mineral lawn fertilizers tend to be the least expensive. You can buy a 50lb. bag at some feed stores for less than $10.00. The bags are often devoid of instructions on storage, safe use, or how much to apply. On the bag I saw, it said that you would need to contact the company to get this information.

They must be used with caution due to their high salt content and thoroughly watered after use in order to avoid any burning of the lawn. While these fertilizers are useful in certain situations, there is a safer and more effective lawn fertilizer available for the majority of homeowners.

Slow Release Nitrogen

Fertilizers that are more expensive will often contain ingredients of higher quality and may have multiple forms of nitrogen available. At least one nitrogen form in the bag is usually slow-release. Blending different ingredients that release at different rates allows them to be marketed under the names “spring”, “summer”, “fall”, or “winterizer”.

ORGANIC LAWN FERTILIZERS

Organic fertilizers are available in a variety of forms and will contain a greater range of micronutrients.

Certified Organic lawn fertilizer means that it is “all-natural” and does not contain synthetic materials. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it hasn’t been processed. Who wants raw manure? These products slowly fertilize grass as soil microorganisms convert the organic matter to elements that the grassroots can absorb. It is easy to over-fertilize organic lawn fertilizer because it’s safe.

Organic Types

Milorganite is a human sludge that comes from Milwaukee Sewage Treatment Plants. It is a very slow-release product and only used in the summer.

Manure: Chicken, turkey, horse, and cattle products. Bat Guano is one of the more expensive products.

Plant by-products, such as corn gluten. Some commercial products are made from food waste.

Bridge Products

Bridge products are organic fertilizers blended with synthetics.

Some lawn fertilizers contain up to 90% organic matter, and they are blended for the best performance at different times of the season. The soil microorganisms in the soil are less active during cold weather, and more active during summer. Therefore, summer blends contain higher amounts of organic material. In cooler weather, the synthetics combined with organics will give the grass immediate nutrients.

It is important to know what your soil contains before you start your fertilization program and buy your first bag. This will allow you to correct any problems that may arise. Below you will find links to detailed information about how to analyze a soil report and how to collect a sample of soil.

Find out more about lawn fertilizers, fertilization, and how to use them. Call Conway Lawn Care Service now.

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

Lawn Care Tips To Get The Perfect One The Block This Season

Who says that you need to hire a professional in order to have the lawn of your dreams? Lawn pros do not do anything that you cannot do yourself. They simply know what products to use and when. We’re more than happy to reveal their secrets. Discover the 6 ways you can create a beautiful lawn that will make your neighbors ask you how you did it. These are secret lawn care tips, but feel free to share them!

Lawn Care Tips

Feed four times per year.

You read it correctly. Many lawn owners believe that spring feeding is sufficient to create a lush, green lawn. Lawn professionals know that you need to fertilize your lawn several times a year using the appropriate lawn food for your area and season.

When and how high to mow depends on the time of year.

Lawn maintenance professionals also know that the timing and style of mowing can have a big impact on the appearance of your lawn. Set the mower to the highest setting appropriate for the grass type you are growing. This is about 2 1/2-3 1/2 inches for cool-season grasses. However, some warm-season grasses do better with a shorter cut.

Allowing the grass to reach its optimal height will encourage it to develop a deeper root structure while shading the soil and preventing weed seeds from germinating.

You should also mow often enough to never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blades at one time. Wait until the grass has dried before mowing. This will prevent you from having wet grass clumps in your yard. Final tip: Vary your mowing patterns to avoid creating ruts on the lawn.

How to water your lawn correctly

Watering your lawn deeply and less often is better than watering it quickly every day. Give the grass a long soak to encourage the roots to grow deep into the soil. This strengthens the lawn and helps it to survive in times of drought. Water the lawn when the blades of grass are no longer bouncing back after you walk on it. You can run the sprinkler for as long as you need to push a dowel with a diameter of 1/4 inch or staking about 12 inches deep into the soil. The soil should not be so wet that it drips if you squeeze the soil.

In the spring and in late autumn, grass requires less water than it does during the summer. You might only have to water your lawn once a week in the spring, but three times a week during the summer. If you get a heavy, long rain, then there is no need to water.

Use only premium grass seeds.

When it comes to grass seeds, the old saying “you get what you paid for” is absolutely true. You can be sure that premium grass seed will provide even coverage and sprout quickly.

The lawn care experts know that premium grass seed will give you a thicker, fuller lawn. This makes it easier to maintain.

Spot-control weeds.

Staying on top of the weed growth is another basic secret for a professional lawn. It’s much easier to maintain a beautiful lawn by controlling weeds on a spot basis than to attempt to save a lawn that has been completely overtaken.

You can spray it on weeds such as clover and dandelion to kill them before they bloom and spread seeds. Follow the directions on any product and check the label to see if it is suitable for your lawn.

Prevent grubs.

It’s important to catch grubs early before they hatch.

You can now create a lawn that looks professional on a budget. What comes with a beautiful lawn? Bragging rights.

“Is your lawn in need of some TLC? Let us take care of it for you! Our professional lawn care services will leave your yard looking lush, green, and healthy. From regular mowing and trimming to fertilization, weed control, and more, we offer a wide range of lawn maintenance solutions to fit your needs and budget.

Our team of experts has years of experience and uses only the best equipment and techniques to ensure your satisfaction. Contact us today and schedule a consultation. Don’t wait any longer to have the lawn of your dreams! Call Conway Lawn Care Service now and let us get started.

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

Why Is Lawn Maintenance Important?

The fresh scent of grass cut on a hot summer day is something special, which is why lawn maintenance is critical. As children play in their yards, the soft sound of the mower is in the background. An older child is seen kicking a soccer ball on the soft turf while a neighbor sits in her yard reading a book.

A well-maintained lawn can enhance the aesthetics of your home and increase curb appeal. It also complements beautifully designed landscapes. Lawns are a key component of social harmony and community health. Experts like Conway Lawn Care Services know that a healthy lawn can make a difference in the environment and enhance a family’s life quality.

It’s not just about keeping your lawn beautiful. We have listed the top three reasons lawn maintenance is important for homeowners and your family.

Importance of Lawn Maintenance

1. Benefits to The Neighbourhood and Environment

Healthy turf traps pollutants and takes in carbon dioxide to provide fresh oxygen. This improves the air quality and makes it easier to breathe. Because the grass ecosystem acts as a natural filter, it helps to create a quieter neighborhood.

A lawn with roots provides soil erosion control and naturally purifies the groundwater. A well-maintained lawn can also help reduce flood damage and the possibility of property water damage.

Tip: Avoid cutting too short. A cut lawn can lead to poor root systems and soil that will eventually lead to weed growth.

2. Contributes to the overall well-being of your family

You and your family deserve to relax after a hard day at work or school. Your family will enjoy an outdoor space where they can relax and play, provided it is well-maintained and designed. Outdoor living spaces are proven to improve the quality of your life by reducing stress and improving work/life balance.

3. You can reduce your energy bill

A conditioned lawn reduces urban heat and cools the yard, which results in better temperature control. This can reduce your energy consumption during summer heat when most homes have their air conditioner on continuously.

Start with what you can

People have a lot of concerns about lawn maintenance. It’s both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Soares Landscaping’s experts will customize their designs to meet your family’s needs. They can also offer low-maintenance ways to beautify your yard.

A healthy lawn and a beautiful landscape will lead to a healthier community. It’s worth taking the time to ensure that they are both done correctly. Inadequate care or repeated mistakes can cause extensive damage that will be more expensive to repair over time.

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

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