A well-maintained lawn provides an inviting environment for families and friends to gather. It requires regular mowing, weed control and fertilization.

A soil test helps determine optimum pH levels. The results also reveal nutrient levels like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). Visit https://www.primecutlawnky.com/ to learn more.

Grass seeding is the process of adding new grass to an existing lawn. This is often done to improve density, thicken the turf, and reduce bare spots. It is especially beneficial after a stressful season, drought, or insect damage.

During the first week, water the newly seeded area twice a day until the soil feels moist to the touch (not swampy). This will help the seeds germinate and grow quickly and deeply. Afterward, water at least once per day to keep the soil moist (depending on climate). Water in the early morning to minimize evaporation.

The best time to sow cool-season grass is in the fall, once summer temperatures have eased, and to plant warm-season grasses in late spring or early summer. It is also possible to reseed in the winter for some species of warm-season grass.

There are many types of grass seed, each with specific needs. Some require full sun, while others thrive in shade. The type of soil also has an impact on how fast the grass grows.

Once the grass has a chance to grow, weed control is essential to avoid chokeout by unwanted plants. A regular mowing schedule will maintain the proper height for the grass to grow well and remain healthy. Once the grass is established, a good quality fertilizer should be applied every six to eight weeks from late February through November. A soil test is recommended to determine the correct rate of fertilization. The fertilizer should be high in phosphorous and nitrogen to ensure proper root growth. It should also contain minor amounts of potassium and micronutrients to promote strong plant and leaf development. This will allow the grass to better tolerate environmental stressors such as heat, cold, disease, and insects.

Pest Control

Whether your lawn is plagued by grubs, fire ants, mosquitoes, chinch bugs or other pests, professional lawn care companies use a wide variety of treatments to help keep them away. They’ll also provide advice on preventing and controlling them, including mowing and watering schedules, weed control, and soil health practices.

Perimeter pest control services typically involve spraying a chemical barrier around the perimeter of your yard to prevent insects from coming too close to your house or other structures. However, many landscapers apply this service without a proper license to perform structural pest control. As such, they may be in violation of licensing requirements and could face penalties if they were caught.

Most southern lawns are threatened each year by insects such as chinch bugs, grubs, aphids, mites and more. These pests damage grass, roots and shoots leaving unsightly holes in the turf or worse. They can also pose a health risk to you and your family.

Lawn disease can be just as damaging as pests, but are much harder to identify and treat. Dollar spot fungus, leaf spot fungus and summer patch fungus are common examples of lawn diseases that can quickly deteriorate the health of a grass. Fungicide treatments are often used to combat these problems, but they can be expensive and may not be fully effective.

Some lawn services also offer a variety of other landscape and gardening services, such as edging, mulching, fertilization, landscaping and tree and shrub care. These additional services are important to consider when choosing a full-service provider. If any of these are important to you, be sure to ask for them in your quote. You can also work with your lawn service to create a custom plan that best fits your needs.

Irrigation

Lawns require a consistent supply of water to keep grass dense and healthy, which helps it resist stress from drought or weed invasion. Irrigation is also important to prevent diseases, like fungus, that can affect the health and beauty of your lawn.

A well-designed irrigation system delivers water directly to grass roots, increasing hydration efficiency. It’s important to know the unique needs of your grass and regional climate when designing your irrigation system. Watering too much or too little can be damaging to your lawn, so it’s important to understand the finer points of irrigation design.

Grass should be irrigated weekly during the summer with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Generally, it is best to irrigate early in the morning to decrease evaporation and reduce the risk of fungal disease. You can test soil moisture by sticking a screwdriver in the ground: If it easily goes in, the soil is sufficiently moist.

Proper mowing contributes to grass density and deep root growth, which makes it more drought-resistant and less dependent on frequent watering. Regular inspection of the lawn for weeds is also an important part of routine lawn care. Weeds are most likely to germinate and grow in thin or stressed lawn areas. A knowledgeable weed control program targets weeds as they germinate, preventing their spread.

To save time and money on lawn maintenance, a multi-service company that performs lawn care, fertilization and landscaping can be very beneficial. This allows the technicians to talk to each other about issues they see on your property and coordinate services accordingly. For example, if the fertilization crew notices a wet spot in your yard, they may alert an irrigation technician to check for a broken sprinkler or leak.

Lawn Cleanup

Lawn cleanup is a big part of yard maintenance and should be performed regularly throughout the year. It includes mowing the lawn, removing leaves, maintaining garden beds, and trimming shrubs and trees. Special cleaning tasks like spring and fall clean up are also part of the lawn care package.

When a lawn is not cleaned regularly, debris such as pine cones, twigs, grass clippings and dead leaves can become a nuisance around your house. In addition to looking unattractive, this debris can damage your roof or gutters, and impede the flow of rainwater. It can also be a breeding ground for pests. Lawn cleanup removes these elements from the yard and disposes of them properly, reducing the risk of a home invasion by insects and rodents.

A regular lawn maintenance plan should include a fall and spring clean up, as well as other yard maintenance tasks such as mulching, pruning, aerating and seeding. When you work with a professional lawn service, they will provide all of the necessary equipment for yard clean up. Yard clean up tools include a lawn mower, weed removal tool and spray and a leaf blower or vacuum for yard waste.

During the fall, it’s important to de-thatch your lawn. Thatch is a buildup of organic material that chokes the grass and prevents it from getting the sunlight it needs to thrive. De-thatching helps the grass to grow healthy and strong, and reduces problems with weed control and pest control.

Fall lawn clean up also includes a fungicide application to protect the lawn during the winter months from diseases and mold. The best time to do this is during the early fall, before the cold weather sets in.

Edging

Lawn edging helps define the separate areas of your garden and makes walking paths, flower and vegetable beds and seating areas stand out. It also promotes healthy growth and discourages weeds by making it difficult for them to grow around the crisp, defined lines. However, if your edges aren’t straight or even, it can detract from the overall look of your yard.

To keep a lawn looking sharp and tidy, the edges must be trimmed regularly. This is especially true during warm growing seasons like spring and early fall. For best results, it is recommended that you edge your yard once a week with long-handled edging shears. This keeps grass rhizomes from spreading into neighboring borders and eliminates the need for more aggressive cutting with mowers, which can cause damage to turfgrass.

If you don’t have a dedicated edging tool, gas or electric powered lawn edgers can make quick work of this chore. Aim to start this process in the spring to kickstart your lawn’s growth with a clean and well-defined appearance. Watering your lawn before edging will help soften the soil and ensure a smoother result.

In addition to traditional edging tools, paving stones and bricks can create distinct edges for your garden that are both stylish and durable. Paving stone edging can also double as a decorative pathway and provide an ideal surface for plantings. Brick edging is another common option that works in many garden styles and colors. For an added touch of elegance, consider metal garden edging, which comes in a variety of finishes from galvanized steel for rust protection to gloss-painted to match the colors of your landscape. This type of edging also requires minimal maintenance and can be anchored in the ground with stakes pounded into the soil.