A well-maintained lawn adds beauty and value to a home or business. It also provides a variety of environmental benefits. For example, it captures pollutants from stormwater runoff before they enter drains, and grass keeps soil in place instead of promoting erosion.
The health of a lawn depends on several factors, including watering, weed control and fertilization. Lawn Care Kentucky also includes soil aeration, leaf and debris removal, and pest control.
A weed in the lawn is more than just an eyesore; it competes with your grass for water and sunlight. As such, weeds should be considered as a part of your regular lawn care program. The first step is preventing weeds from taking hold. Every lawn contains a virtual army of weed seeds that blow in, are carried by birds and animals, or drop from people walking through the yard. Keeping the turf thick and healthy denies these weeds the space they need to grow. Using a combination of prevention and proper timing of treatments, the good news is that you can have a beautiful, healthy lawn with few weeds.
In addition to mowing and watering well, fertilizing and aerating help keep the grass in its optimal growing conditions, so it can best compete with unwanted weeds for these resources. Healthy lawns are better able to stand up to stressors such as drought, disease and pest infestations than thin, weaker lawns.
The first line of defense against weeds is preemergence herbicides that kill seedlings as they germinate and attempt to emerge from the soil (this is what lawn care companies most often use for annual grass weeds such as crabgrass and poa annua). There are also some postemergence herbicides that act on actively growing weeds, either by contact or systemic action; these can be selective or nonselective. Many lawn care products combine preemergence and postemergence herbicides, which saves time. However, these should only be used when weeds are evident and the weather is appropriate for application (daytime temperatures need to be above 50F).
Some companies apply both preemergence and postemergence herbicides throughout every lawn regardless of whether there is a known weed problem or not; however, this can lead to overuse of these products and can harm the environment. It is more effective to apply a postemergent herbicide only in areas where you have a weed problem, and with selective ones only when it makes sense (the lawn needs to be in bloom to make these most effective).
For perennial weeds such as dandelions and clover, physical removal can be very successful. Another option is shallow cultivation of the soil to bring up buried propagules and cause them to desiccate on the surface of the ground. For most lawns, however, a combination of prevention and properly timed treatment is the most effective approach to weed control.
Pest Control
Lawn pests are a common problem in Florida. Many harmful insects, grubs and mites damage grass, ornamental plants and trees and can even kill them in severe cases. Most lawn care companies monitor and treat for pests that can be controlled with insecticides. This includes pests that are continuous (like roaches and termites) as well as sporadic pests like chinch bugs, grubs and aphids.
A healthy, properly fertilized, well-watered and regularly mowed lawn is a strong deterrent against most pests. Many lawn care services also use products to protect lawns from fungus. Fungicides can help prevent the spread of turf disease, which tends to happen when grass is overfertilized, overwatered, cut too short or subjected to stress by weather conditions.
Most lawn care service packages include standard mowing, edging and leaf blowing. Some offer additional lawn care services as part of their package, including aeration, dethatching, mulching and weed control.
Other lawn care services that you might want to look for are mosquito control and tick treatment. Mosquitoes can cause serious health problems for people and pets in addition to damaging lawns. Ticks spread several deadly diseases, including Lyme disease, babesiosis and rocky mountain spotted fever.
When evaluating a lawn care company, it’s important to check reviews on their website, on social media and other sources to ensure they have a good reputation. Also, it’s important to find out what types of herbicides and pesticides they use. Some companies pride themselves on using eco-friendly, low-toxicity chemicals that pose less of a threat to the environment and are safer for children and pets.
Finally, a quality lawn care service will provide a detailed written estimate for the work they will perform. They should also clearly explain what is and isn’t included in the package. You should also be sure to read all terms and conditions, as well as the lawn care company’s warranty policy. A reliable lawn care service will be happy to answer any questions you may have about their services.
Fertilization
The best way to keep your lawn green and healthy is with regular fertilization. Fertilizers supply the grass with nutrients it needs to thrive, making it healthier and thicker. This will also make it less likely to be overtaken by weeds and more resilient against other threats, like harsh weather conditions.
There are several types of lawn fertilizers, including granular and liquid options. Choosing the right lawn fertilizer is important, as well as knowing when and how to apply it properly.
Ideally, you should spread a slow-acting commercial granular fertilizer on your lawn once or twice per year. It will release the nutrients into the soil over time, so it’s more effective than quick-acting water-soluble spray fertilizer. Adding compost and manure to the soil is another great way to naturally provide your lawn with nutrients.
A good lawn needs the proper balance of macronutrients, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These are typically found in fertilizers, along with micronutrients, such as boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and molybdenum (Mo).
To get the most out of your lawn, consider using organic lawn fertilizers, which are made from natural materials, such as decomposing organic matter or compost. Organic fertilizers are also biodegradable, so they won’t harm the environment and can be used in places where traditional chemical fertilizers aren’t allowed.
The best time to use a lawn fertilizer is in the spring, when the soil temperature has risen above 55o Fahrenheit. This will encourage the grass’s growth and help it survive through the hot summer. Fall fertilization is also important, as it helps the grass prepare for the colder months ahead.
When applying lawn fertilizer, be sure to avoid areas where the soil is wet. If the fertilizer is washed away, it will be unable to reach the grass roots. Also, be mindful of how far you’re fertilizing from rivers, lakes or other bodies of water, as excess nutrients can run off into them and cause algae blooms.
Adding the right type of organic mulch to your yard can help with nutrient uptake and slow erosion. Mirimichi Green’s lawn biostimulant and liquid fertilizer, Nutri-Kelp(tm), contains 24% sea kelp vitamins, enzymes and essential nutrients to help maximize nutrient uptake in the soil. This makes it a perfect choice for organic lawn fertilization!
Aeration
A lush lawn depends on the healthy flow of oxygen, water and nutrients to grass roots. But if soil becomes compacted, even slightly, it inhibits the flow of these essentials and prevents grass growth. That’s why aeration is such an important part of your lawn care program.
Aeration involves puncturing small holes in your lawn’s surface to alleviate soil compaction and promote a rich, strong turf. This treatment is especially beneficial for heavily used lawns, such as those that serve as playgrounds or sports fields. Foot traffic and heavy equipment compress soil particles, reducing the amount of air space between them and starving roots of their vital nutrients. Excess lawn thatch or other heavy organic debris buried beneath the surface of your yard can also starve roots of these elements.
Fortunately, aeration is one of the most cost-effective treatments for improving your property’s curb appeal and overall health. It stimulates root growth, increases grass density and vigor and makes your yard more resistant to disease and insect attacks. Plus, aeration reduces runoff and erosion by percolating stormwater into the ground rather than running off the property and polluting nearby waterways.
The best time for aerating your yard is during the peak growing season for your grass variety. For example, if you have cool-season ryegrass, this would be early spring or fall; for warm-season bermudagrass, this is late spring through the summer.
Although there are a number of different ways to aerate a lawn, core aeration is the most common. This procedure uses hollow tines on an aerator machine to poke small plugs of earth out of the lawn. This helps break up the thatch layer and relieves soil compaction, allowing vital elements to reach deeper grass roots.
After aerating your lawn, generously water it. This will rehydrate the soil, making it softer and more amenable to future treatments. Then, apply a lawn food to help jump-start the nutrients’ flow and ensure the root zone receives maximum benefits from these treatments. After that, overseed your lawn if necessary to crowd out unwanted weeds and promote thicker grass.