by epicweb on February 8, 2012
Any recipe is only as good as its ingredients and that goes for Lebanon IL lawn care too. If you don’t have good flour and shortening (soil and pH level), it doesn’t matter how much frosting (or fertilizer) you add, your recipe (lawn) isn’t going to turn out well. That’s why it’s important to get a soil test and start with a good foundation.
A soil test can measure many things like soil fertility. Elements like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, manganese, copper and zinc are removed from the soil to determine nutrient and contaminant content. One of the most important things a soil test measures is pH. Experts say if a soil is too acidic or too alkaline it can be toxic to plants. The acidity in the soil can limit plant growth to such extremes that the plants won’t be able to utilize any fertilizer applied. So, the soil test can help determine the best lime and fertilizer recommendations. It’ll help save you money in the long run and help the environment by limiting the over-use of fertilizers.
Basically soils in moist climates tend to be acidic while those in dry climates are generally alkaline. A soil pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil, anything higher is alkaline. The soil has to be adjusted to fit the needs of the particular plants planted in the area.
There are do-it-yourself testing kits available in many areas at reasonable prices or you can hire a company to do the testing for you. Either way you’ll be getting important information that will help your Lebanon IL lawn and garden grow and will make you look like the expert with the green thumb without all the effort.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on January 18, 2012
While you may be closing your windows and turning up the heat this winter season, the window of opportunity for a better Lebanon IL Belleville lawn in the spring is closing as well.
If you haven’t already taken advantage of these few simple treatments that make a large difference in your turf’s spring green up, there may still be time. Depending on your geographic location, chances are the ground hasn’t frozen and you still have time for a very late fall feeding.
Many different fall fertilizers offer the nutrients your turf needs to sustain itself throughout the winter and achieve a fuller, greener look next season. Specifically choose a “winter” fertilizer as they typically have a higher concentration of phosphorus and potassium that will better develop and strengthen your turf’s root system. In doing so you will allow it to maximize absorption and how efficiently your Lebanon IL Belleville lawn uses nutrients, making it more resilient in dry conditions or times of drought.
Not sure which winter fertilizer to select for your Lebanon IL Belleville lawn? A soil test around the end of the season is a great way to find out as well as get a measurement of your Lebanon IL Belleville lawn’s progress. A soil analysis will give you a full reading of your Lebanon IL Belleville lawn’s pH levels and point you in the right direction for next season.
Don’t forget your ornamentals! A dormant oil treatment is an effective way to get a better foliage bloom in the spring for your ornamental trees and shrubs. Dormant oils combat against many harmful insects like scale and mites that rob nutrients your Lebanon IL Belleville lawn and ornamentals. They also burrow into your ornamentals leaving nasty scars and marks to survive the winter.
Check back next week to find out how to best prepare your ornamental trees and shrubs for colder temperatures.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on January 11, 2012
If you live in an area of the country where clay soil is an option, Illinois Belleville lawn care specialists say this might be an ideal alternative to typical soil in order to produce a beautiful Illinois Belleville lawn.
Typical soil is often subjected to erosion, especially in climates with heavy rainfall. When the soil is washed away, the roots of your Illinois Belleville lawn and other plants become exposed, making them vulnerable. Clay soil also is better for retaining moisture. If you live in an area where the heat often dries out your Illinois Belleville lawn, clay soil could be a better alternative so your Illinois Belleville lawn doesn’t become brown and brittle. Because clay soil holds moisture in better and longer, you can save money by watering less!
Another reason Illinois Belleville lawn care specialists recommend clay soil is because its pH level rarely needs adjusted. Most clay soil is neutral, which is exactly what it needs to be in order to grow a perfect Illinois Belleville lawn. Soil Illinois Belleville lawns need to be tested annually to ensure the pH level is correct. If it is too acidic or not acidic enough, you need to apply pH conditioners, which cost money and take some guesswork to figure out the right amount.
Clay soil is typically devoid of nutrients, which may seem like a negative, but it is in fact a good thing. You can add the nutrients you deem necessary and have greater control over your fertilization regimen.
If you are considering a Illinois Belleville lawn soil change, contact your local Illinois Belleville lawn care professionals and find out more about whether or not clay Illinois Belleville lawn soil is right for you.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on January 4, 2012
Are your best efforts to grow a picture-perfect Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn being literally trampled? Growing a Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn that is often traversed by kids and animals can seem like an uphill battle that is often lost; however, there are some Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care tips that can make the process a little more successful.
The first step is choosing a resilient type of grass and making sure it is well maintained. Lawn care specialists recommend using tall fescue blended with perennial rye grass. Different parts of the country respond differently to various grass types, so it is important to contact your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care company and get an expert opinion on your specific location, but tall fescue tends to do well in most climates. Tall fescue also performs well under high-stress conditions such as constant traffic. Regardless of what type of seed you use, what is more important is aerating your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn once a year (sometimes twice). Core aeration alleviates the compaction that occurs when people and animals are constantly walking over the Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn. An added benefit is that aeration also improves the color and density of your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn.
Another way to combat the effects of high traffic is to regulate the traffic itself. Instead of allowing your dog to roam free in your yard, take him to a dog park where he can wear himself at the expense of someone else’s Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn. If you have both a front and back yard, have your kids switch their play areas every few weeks to give one area a chance to recover. Even better, send them off to the park as well!
If none of these options are ideal, Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care professionals recommend artificial turf. It is more expensive than a regular Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn, but its resiliency is much, much higher than a natural Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn.
If you aren’t sure what to do to keep your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn healthy, contact your local Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care company and put it in the hands of the professionals!
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on December 28, 2011
You are really looking forward to sprucing up your Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn this year and have decided to add fertilizer into your Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn care regimen, but you might be wondering which is better: liquid or granular fertilizer?
The choice between liquid and dry fertilizers may depend on what Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn care goals you hope to achieve this season. If you have a persistent weed problem, then liquid fertilizer may be the way to go. Some fertilization treatments include pre- and post-emergent weed control elements and when they come in liquid form, they are absorbed more quickly, producing faster results. Lawn care specialists also suggest that liquid fertilization treatments are better for the environment because the fertilizer does not spread all over your landscape like granular treatments.
Liquid fertilizer has the benefit of taking less time to be effective. In order for granular fertilization to work properly, there must be adequate moisture. If you’re having a dry season, the results may not be as successful as with liquid fertilizer.
There are some Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn care experts who suggest using a combination of dry and liquid fertilizer for optimal results. When you begin to fertilize in the spring, the weather is typically wetter than in the late summer and early fall months. You can take advantage of this moisture and use granular fertilizer to jumpstart your Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn. The warmer months typically produce less rainfall, so liquid fertilizer is more ideal during this period, along with proper hydration.
For the best results, contact your local Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn care company and leave it up to the professionals. Employing a Illinois Lebanon IL Collinsville lawn care company often allows you to expect higher quality results.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on December 21, 2011
Lawn care involves many steps, but perhaps none is as important as proper hydration. After all, a Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn cannot grow without water. Adequately hydrating your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn is not an exact science, but it is close. The best plan is to install a sprinkler system that ensures your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn is watered every day at the same time. Sprinkler systems with a timer are even more ideal, but you still have several options there. Lawn care specialists highly recommend pulsating sprinklers for the best results.
Pulsating sprinkler systems spray water into the air and allow the water to fall back down to the ground in a fine mist. There are five different types of pulsating sprinklers: impulse, traveling, stationary, oscillating and rotary. Impulse sprinklers are the top choice of Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care professionals who need to water a larger area such as an entire landscape or vast Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn.
It is important to know if you have high or low water pressure, as that also factors in to which type of pulsating sprinkler you choose for your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care needs. If you have low water pressure, an H-base is a better choice than a spike-based sprinkler which is better suited for high pressure.
Pulsating sprinklers have the benefit of being designed with gusty winds in mind, as well as low-hanging trees or tall shrubs. The height of the water spray can be adjusted accordingly and since the water is typically sprayed close to the ground, its spray is unaffected by the wind.
If you think a pulsating sprinkler may be beneficial to your Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn, contact your local Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care company. Many Illinois Belleville Collinsville lawn care providers also install irrigation systems, especially since proper hydration makes their job that much easier!
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on December 14, 2011
Mowing might seem like the simplest of Lebanon IL lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your Lebanon IL lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your Lebanon IL lawn. Here are some Lebanon IL lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.
Most Lebanon IL lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.
Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the Lebanon IL lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your Lebanon IL lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.
Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your Lebanon IL lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your Lebanon IL lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.
If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local Lebanon IL lawn care professionals.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on November 23, 2011
As the cooler temperatures arrive and you’ll soon be exchanging your leaf rake for snow shovel, consider a few simple leaf raking tips that will help winterize your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn while increasing your chances for a better spring green-up.
How well you maintain the leaves in your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn is a large indicator for how healthy and prepared your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn will be for next season. When neglected, leaves can suffocate and rob turf of sunlight, water and other essential nutrients. For every leaf that lies on top of your turf, multiple blades of grass beneath it run the risk of browning or even worse, developing patches of mold or fungus depending on how low temperatures drop in your area.
Depending on your yard, raking once a week should be sufficient in at least warding off fungus and disease from developing in your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn. If you do step up to twice a week, try to keep it to a light raking as it will be gentler on your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn. Raking is a natural form of dethatching but a little layer of thatch build up is actually healthy for your turf. Just be sure the second raking doesn’t over do it.
If you want to save time and utilize leaves for compost, a mulching mower is a smart investment. A mulching mower can be very beneficial to your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn as it will chop up and shred leaves to easily decompose in the soil. This granulizes leaves into a natural fertilizer to be absorbed into your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn.
Check back next week for more information about the absorbing of nutrients in your Illinois Lebanon IL lawn.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on November 17, 2011
You have been noticing that your lawn is not growing as fast as it should or perhaps it just does not appear as vibrant as it used to look. You may want to call your lawn care company and ask them to perform a soil analysis. There could be several explanations as to why your lawn isn’t thriving, but one reason may be that the pH level of your soil is not where it should be. If that is the case, your lawn care specialists will more than likely suggest lime applications to correct the acidity level. However, wood ashes are an alternative to lime applications that with continual use can have the same level of effectiveness as lime.
The reason wood ashes are used to correct the pH level of soil is because the ashes contain small quantities of boron, potassium, phosphate and other elements pertinent to increasing the soil’s pH level. If you do decide to use wood ashes, you need to be vigilant about using them often and having your soil’s acidity tested annually. Wood ashes are particularly effective in sandy soils. Lawn care experts recommend spreading a thin layer of the ashes over the soil in the winter, then mixing the ashes in with the soil again in the spring. Be aware of what other plants the ashes come into contact with, as they can cause damage to plant roots or seedlings that are in a state of germination.
If you aren’t sure about how much to use or how to correctly apply the wood ashes, call your lawn care professional.
Lawn Care Blog
by epicweb on November 2, 2011
It’s not just an old wives tale; vinegar really does get rid of weeds, if you know how to properly use it.
Vinegar is a popular choice among homeowners who are in favor of a more organic method to get rid of pesky weeds. Lawn care specialists offer organic weed control products, but when weeds sprout in between applications, you may have to take weed control into your own hands.
So what kind of vinegar is effective against weeds? If you’ve tried this method before, you may have been disappointed when the only result you got was a very vinegary garden. The reason your previous attempt may have been ineffectual was because you didn’t use the right kind of vinegar. Lawn care studies have shown that in order to be effective against weeds, the vinegar must possess a 20 percent concentration of acetic acid. Now that you know what kind of vinegar to use, how should it be applied?
Most people spray organic weed control products directly on the plants, thinking it won’t do any harm. In most cases, this is probably true. However, when using vinegar, you’re using an acidic liquid that can remove the waxy layer of defense plant leaves have, leaving the plant susceptible to dehydration. The second application alternative is to drench the soil directly below the plant. However, this also presents complications as the pH level of the soil is lowered to a level that plants cannot survive. The plants won’t immediately die, because the acidifying effects will last for up to a year. The plant may have one last period of bloom, which is when you should apply lime to neutralize the soil.
Vinegar might take a little more planning than some other organic weed control products, but it is still an inexpensive method to eliminate weeds without posing harm to the environment. Lawn care experts suggest applying the vinegar on warm, dry days. If it happens to rain immediately after you apply the vinegar application, you’ll need to re-apply because the original application will have been washed away.
If you aren’t sure if this is the right solution, consult your local Belleville lawn care company for the best organic weed control solution.
Lawn Care Blog
