Lawn care professionals use the right lawn tools and techniques to give your yard the best chance of lush green growth. They nip weeds in the bud, spread grass seed in bare areas, and aerate to relieve soil compaction.

Aerating punches tiny holes in your turf, which allows air and nutrients to reach the roots. Aerating is especially important for heavy, clay soils. Visit https://www.primecutlawnky.com/ to learn more.

A lush, green lawn enhances the curb appeal of homes and businesses. But to keep a lawn healthy and thriving, it requires a multifaceted approach. Professional lawn care experts know the ins and outs of identifying potential issues like pest infestations or nutrient deficiencies before they become serious problems. They also take into account the climate, soil conditions and grass type to plan and execute important lawn treatments throughout the year.

Core lawn treatment services include mowing, fertilization and weed control. When choosing a lawn service provider, ask what treatments they’ll provide and on what schedule. For example, many companies offer a spring and fall lawn maintenance schedule. This includes mowing the lawn weekly (or more often) during the growing season, edging, aerating and overseeding the lawn, applying fertilizer, and completing leaf removal in the fall.

Watering is also an important part of a lawn care routine. A professional will set up an efficient sprinkler system that ensures every inch of your yard receives the right amount of moisture at the correct times to prevent over- or underwatering.

Lawn fungicide treatments are vital to keeping your turf healthy. Fungi that cause disease in the grass thrive in chilly, humid spring weather and can quickly destroy an entire lawn if left unchecked. A lawn care company will check your property for symptoms and treat any problems with fungicides, if necessary.

Mulching is another essential component of lawn care that promotes a healthy, lush lawn. It helps to retain moisture and nutrients in the soil, improves weed control, and encourages root growth for a strong foundation. A quality mulch will also add color and texture to your yard’s landscape.

Many clients prefer to sign up for recurring services, which saves them time and money on scheduling and billing. Look for a lawn care company that offers a streamlined process, sending visit notifications, answering questions and communicating with their customers in a timely manner. This way, you can rest assured that your lawn will continue to thrive all year round. Whether it’s mowing, mulching, fertilizing or any other service you need to stay on top of your lawn, the best lawn care service providers will make it easy for you.

Watering

Watering a lawn properly is vital to the health of the grass. The amount of watering required will depend on the grass type, climate and soil conditions. In general, watering should be done to keep the top six inches of soil moist but not soggy. Overwatering will cause a lawn to develop shallow roots and make it more susceptible to drought stress and environmental challenges. Frequent, shallow watering also encourages chinch bugs and other pests that feed on dry and stressed grasses.

Using an automatic sprinkler system to water your lawn is often the best option for most homes. However, you need to set the timer correctly. Choose a timer that measures water flow in hundreds of gallons (equal to an inch of water per square foot), and multiply your lawn’s square footage by that number to determine how many gallons of water you need to apply each week. If puddling occurs while you’re watering, try shorter cycles (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off) until the needed amount of water has been applied.

If you’re unsure whether your lawn needs additional water, walk across the yard and examine the blades of grass for signs of moisture. A healthy lawn will stand up and spring back quickly when you step on it, but if the blades remain flat, it’s time to give the lawn a good watering. It’s also best to water in the morning rather than the evening, as this reduces evaporation and prevents fungal growth.

Watering early in the morning also helps to ensure that liquid weed killers or other lawn treatments are fully absorbed into the grass. A wet surface will help granules of weed killer stick to the leaf surfaces, making them more effective and easier to control.

Performing a laboratory soil test can provide valuable information about your soil, including the proportions of sand, silt and clay. This information will guide your routine, particularly when it comes to watering and aeration. Clay soil tends to hold water and nutrients in place, so you’ll need to water less frequently than sandy soil that dries out quickly.

Fertilizing

Just like people, grass needs nutrients to thrive. When soil depletes those nutrients, weak turf growth opens the door for weeds and pests. That’s why a regular fertilization schedule is essential to a beautiful lawn.

In addition to the three primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) that promote healthy grass growth, soil tests should be done to determine what else your lawn needs. For example, some soils need to be acidified or sand added to improve drainage and water-holding capacity.

A good lawn care company will provide you with a detailed maintenance plan that will include a recommended fertilization schedule, and can help you determine what type of granular or liquid fertilizer is best for your lawn. Most homeowners choose granular fertilizers because they can be easily spread by hand or using a spreader without the need to dilute or mix with water first. Some granular fertilizers are “slow-release” products that slowly add nutrients to the ground over time.

Liquid fertilizers are usually sprays that are applied to the lawn with a garden hose or by lawn sprayers. Liquid fertilizers may be a quicker option than granular fertilizer but they tend to have a higher nitrogen content, so they can burn the turf if not used properly. Some lawn care services also offer weed control, so you can get rid of existing weeds and prevent them from coming back.

Fertilizer-herbicide combinations, often called weed and feed, are available in some retail stores. These products are not as effective as weed killers and lawn food applied separately. It’s important to follow the directions on the weed-and-feed product to ensure that you use it correctly.

If you don’t have the time to properly fertilize your lawn, a quality lawn care service will do it for you on a regular basis. They can also handle many other routine lawn care tasks, such as mowing, aeration and seeding, as well as weed control and tree and shrub care. Lawn Love can connect you with lawn care pros in your area who can keep your yard looking its best all year round.

Weeding

Grass thrives when its water, nutrients and sunlight aren’t stolen by weeds. A regular weeding schedule prevents the spread of new weed seeds. Hand-weeding is best for annual broadleaf weeds that go to seed (such as dandelions). Digging larger weeds (such as garlic mustard or goutweed) is also an option. If the weeds are very established, use a nonselective herbicide to kill them. A good lawn service will know which products to recommend for your yard, based on local climate, soil type and your desired level of upkeep.

The best way to minimize weeds in established lawns is to promote healthy soil and grass by managing the nutrients in your soil organically, encouraging healthy microbial activity, leaving lawn clippings to decompose, mowing high, aerating, only watering during major dry spells, and stopping the practice of adding synthetic “weed and feed” chemicals that do more harm than good. Soil testing will help you determine if your soil needs to be amended.

In the fall and spring, fertilizing is important for lawns to keep them growing fast. However, you must be judicious about the timing and type of fertilizer you use, as too much or the wrong type can damage your lawn.

A good lawn service will test your soil, apply the appropriate fertilizer, and know when to do it. They will also be able to recommend other soil care treatments, like aerating or applying lime.

If your lawn is struggling to stay healthy, a full renovation of the problem area may be in order. This will include removing the existing plants, breaking up clumps of dirt and weeds, working in soil amendments, and reseeding or overseeding as needed. If weeds are a serious issue, your professional lawn service can help with a comprehensive plan for weed control, including a weed inspection and recommendation of the best herbicide to use. A recurring weed removal program will save you time, money and the hassle of dealing with unsightly weeds on your own.