Hard To Control Weeds
Not all weeds are the same. While some weeds thrive in cool temperatures others thrive in the heat. Some need very little water and others need excessive water. Our broadleaf weed control can kill most weeds with one application. Some more mature or stubborn weeds may take a couple of applications. Some weeds can only be killed off at specific times of the year. Here are a few easy steps to help get the most out of your lawn:
Maintain consistent lawn applications
Long delays between applications can cause weeds to be harder to kill and maintain. Also, delaying fertilization can stress your lawns root system causing thinning and giving weeds move room to grow.
Dont mow the lawn too short
Central Indiana lawns should be mowed at 3.5 4 inches. Mowing short can expose the root system, drying them out and paving the way for weeds to grow.
Seed thin lawns
Weeds can only grow where there is room. If your lawn is thin, aerate and seed in the fall. This will thicken up the lawn giving less room for weeds to germinate.
If you are a Lawn Pride customer and you take at least five lawn applications each season you qualify for a free weed touch-up for up to 14 days after your lawn care application.
For more information on weeds and how to control them. Check out our guide to Common Central Indiana Weeds.
Summer Lawn Care In The Northeast
With good Spring preparations, Summer is all about watering and mowing.
When your lawn care routine is inadequate, the summer heat can be very damaging to your grass. If you cut your grass too short, water it too much or too little, or fail to catch pest problems in its early stages, your lawn might suddenly die. The key to success in the summer is to continue building on the solid foundation laid in the Spring.
Due to the erratic nature of summer weather, it is crucial that you maintain a close eye on your lawn to determine when specific treatments are required.
Here are a few things to do:
Fall Lawn Care In Northeast
- Apply some good starter fertilizer and fertilize the soil.
- You can slice seed or overseed with high-quality grass seed.
- Aerate the soil by making a left-to-right and an up-and-down pass.
- Before the ground freezes and after your last mowing, apply a winterizer fertilizer.
- If you put off September tasks, get them done now while the weather is still warm.
- Mow low once more, aiming for a grass height of 2.5 to 3.0 inches.
- Finish off the season by spreading some winter fertilizer.
- Only trim your grass when it appears like your yard really needs it.
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Fall Lawn Care In The Northeast
The fall is the best time to fertilize your grass if you only do it once every year.
It would help if you started getting ready to winterize your lawn and prepare it for the following Spring sometime in the early fall. If you live in any of the states between Maine and New Jersey, you probably already know that fall lawn care involves cleaning up and getting ready for the following year.
Youll have a much easier spring if you get a head start on these tasks when the temperature drops. In fact, a good number of them are analogous to the actions that you carry out when Spring arrives.
Insect And Disease Control
Hot summers can leave lawns susceptible to insect infestations and disease. Bugs like fire ants, fleas, chinch bugs, and mosquitoes thrive in hot weather. Some of these insects wont just ruin your familys time outside, theyll ruin your lawn as well. If this happens to you, learn more about our insect and disease control treatments& get protected today.
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Spot Treat Grassy Weeds Before They Spread
‘If you spot a troublesome weed before it takes hold, you can take steps to kill it or at least keep it from spreading by using pre-emergent herbicides and fertilizers.’
‘This will save your lawn’s health and prevent the future growth of unwanted plants.’
Shop for the best weed killer or discover how to get rid of weeds naturally with baking soda, Castille soap ), or salt/vinegar solution.
Maxim is a fan of treating your grassplot with a condiment cocktail. He advises that you use: ‘one gallon of vinegar to a cup of salt and about a tablespoon of dish soap! Spray directly to the weed. Try to avoid putting around plants and green grassy areas as salt doesn’t mix well for thriving spaces.’
Avoid Too Much Traffic On Your Lawn
If there are areas of your lawn that constantly receive a lot of traffic, consider installing stepping stones instead. This will minimize any damage to your lawn from constantly being trodden on.
Remember also to never park any vehicles on your lawn areas as this will cause damage to the grass as well.
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Hydrate Your Lawn At The Right Time Of Day
While water is the essence of life, there’s a fine balance between too little or too much. So give your lawn the best chance of thriving by making sure that it has ample time to absorb it over the course of the day.
‘Watering flowers and grass in the morning gives them a chance to drink before it evaporates. If you can’t, do it later in the day, but not too late, as the water needs to dry before nightfall.’ says Alison Jones, assistant editor, Real Homes.
By giving your lawn the correct amount of H2O, you can save money on your utility bills and respect the water levels in your community as one expect explains:’It’s important to water correctly and save water all year long, but it’s even more important when hot and dry weather causes water shortages or even droughts,’ says Daniel Akins, writer and editor at Theyardable .’During the summer, it’s important to water your grass early in the morning so that the water will stay on the grass for longer. If your lawn is suffering from drought, a quick irrigation cycle in the afternoon will help cool the plant down.’
‘The best time to do this is between 4 and 6 pm, so the lawn can dry out before the sun goes down. This will stop the spread of disease. The easiest way to water your grass at the right time and in the right amount is with a sprinkler irrigation system. Consider putting in a smart sprinkler system that can be used with regular sprinklers and controlled by a smart device.’
Summer Lawn Care Tips
The summer season brings about glorious days of warm weather and outdoor activities that keep us outside of hours upon hours at a time. For some, most of those hours during these months are used to maintaining a healthy landscape around their homes.
While some homeowners know exactly what their lawn needs on a daily basis, most will find that they have issues keeping their grass healthy and, in turn, will be looking at a very barren dry lawn by the time fall rolls around.
Below are some tips and procedures that can assist any homeowner in making their lawn healthy throughout the hot summer seasons.
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Seeding Or Sodding Your Lawn
Overseeding may be needed to increase the density of your lawn. A dense lawn has fewer weeds and is healthier.
Pests, extreme weather conditions and neglect can also damage lawns, even when the soil is in good condition.
If your lawn is a little thin, proper mowing, fertilizing and watering may be all it needs. If that doesnât help, overseeding with a quality lawn seed may be the answer.
Choosing your seed
Choose a grass seed high in Fescue content and low in Kentucky Blue content , remembering to use cool season varieties.
Select a seed mixture that is high in physical seed attributes, such as purity and germination, and also contains the best composition of grass for the use intended.
Soil fertility, moisture availability, sunlight levels and traffic affect the tyope of blend that will provide the best results for your yard.
Look to sow your lawn with a blend of grass seed varieties. Check our local nurseries and garden centres in Calgary for drought tolerant blends of lawn seed.
Adding seed to your lawn
Before you spread the seed over the thin areas, make sure there will be good soil-to-seed contact, and rake away any dead grass or debris.
Dethatchers, aerators or vertical mowers can also be used to prepare the lawn prior to overseeding.
Time your overseeding with a day before rain. Donât do before a hot weather forecast. The seed will need water to germinate.
Apply 900 grams per 1,000 square feet or more if the lawn is thin .
Using sod for your lawn
How To Water Your Lawn In The Summer
Dry, hot weather can deplete your soil moisture. To combat this, you should water thoroughly about once or twice a week. But double-check that your region isnt experiencing any drought conditions that call for water restrictions. In that case, you may need to cut back on water and allow your lawn to go dormant.
But in normal summer conditions, the goal is to water deeply and infrequently. The water should reach 46 inches deep. If youre unsure if your water is reaching deep into the soil, try a simple test. Just push a screwdriver into your soil and see how far it goes. If you get a lot of resistance, you need to water more. If it slides in too easily, you need to water your lawn less.
In the summer, its best to water your lawn in the early morning, preferably before sunrise. Thatll keep the sun from drying out the moisture before your lawn can soak it up. You should also take care not to water right after rain. Check with your local water authority or Cooperative Extension System office for recommended irrigation schedules in your area.
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Hot Weather Lawn Care Tips
Lawn care in hot weather is different from on cooler days. Its important to treat your grass a bit more gently and to avoid doing too much:
- Cut long. When you cut your grass during hot days, keep it long. A good general rule is to never cut more than one-third of the grass height. By keeping it longer, you allow the grass to develop stronger roots and a greater tolerance to heat and drought stress.
- Sharpen mower blades. Dull blades only stress grass more by damaging it. When blades are sharp, the grass will heal more quickly from each cut.
- Avoid mowing. In fact, its even better to avoid cutting the grass at all for a lawn in extreme heat or during a drought. Shady patches may be growing more and can be cut more frequently.
- Water deeply but infrequently. Overwatering grass wont help. It generally does better when soil is a little dry. During hot summer days, water your lawn deeply but not necessarily daily.
- Water in the morning. The heat of the day will evaporate water quickly, so water the lawn early in the morning. This will allow the soil and roots to soak up more.
- Dont fertilize. Avoid using fertilizers during the hottest part of the summer. Grass uses a lot of energy at this time of year, more than it produces. Fertilizing diverts that much-needed energy into new growth. This can lead to unnecessary stress.
- Keep foot traffic minimal. For already stressed grass, foot traffic can cause damage. Keep people off the lawn while the heat persists.
How Often Should I Mow And At What Height
- Mowing is one of the greatest ways to bring out the best in virtually any lawn. If a lawn grows really fast and there is a lot of leaf development and growth then you may have to mow your lawn more than once a week.
- The biggest mistake made in lawn care is cutting the lawn too short. Its important never to cut off more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in one go and also to keep mower blades sharp.
- Keep kikuyu at a height of 46cm above ground. Finer grasses such as cynodon, at a height of 34cm. LM lawn and cool season lawns at a height of 57cm. This results in deeper roots which are more capable of surviving dry spells.
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Water Your Lawn Correctly
Watering your lawn correctly and with the right frequency will ensure its healthy and stays strong, particularly during the dry season.Your lawns watering needs depends on the type of grass you have, the soil, and how much rainfall you get. But, there are still good watering practices you can follow to get the most out of it.
- Watering should be done only when the lawn really needs it watering too often and with too little water trains the roots to stay close to the surface, with no way to get moisture during dry periods.
- When watering, you should focus on slow and deep watering, which will train the roots down. Try to utilize a trickling water method, soaking the lawn slowly and completely.
- The best time to water is early in the morning, to reduce irrigation. When your lawn needs watering, it will have a blue-gray tint and older blades will begin to curl. Also, footprints will stay on for longer than usual. If the grass doesnt spring back to life after removing your foot, but takes a few seconds to lift up, its time to water.
By following these simple steps to Southern California lawn care, you can have a lawn that stays green and healthy all year. If you have any other questions about your lawn or wish to speak with a designer, simply fill out our instant estimate form or give us a call at 293-5921.
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How Do I Keep My Yard From Dying In The Summer
Mow regularly and dont allow the grass to become too long. Improper Watering: Water your lawn deeply about once a week, or when the grass looks slightly wilted, providing about an inch of water each time. Avoid frequent, shallow irrigation which results in weak roots that cant tolerate summer heat.
How do I make my lawn greener in the summer?
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Aerate The Soil Beneath Your Lawn
Moss loves compacted soil that doesnt drain well. You can change both of those conditions by aerating. I like to use a hollow tine aerator in spring time. It makes little holes in the soil which lets air get to the roots and allows water to percolate through the soil.
Again, you can hire an aerator or you can ask a lawn care professional to do the work for you. Its less expensive than you might think and will make an enormous difference to the way your lawn looks in late spring and summer.
Professional Help To Prepare Your Lawn For Spring And Summer
Some essential spring lawn care jobs are physically quite demanding. Others, such as feeding, need precision application and good quality products.
If you dont own the machinery to help you and worry about calibrating spreaders etc, hiring a qualified lawn care professional is a good investment. You will be free up your time for other things and your lawn will benefit from expert care.
For lawn care help in Belfast and the surrounding areas, call Premier Lawns for a free, no obligation quote.
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How And When To Water
Most established lawns need about one inch of water every week. That water can come from rain or irrigation. There is no reason to irrigate your lawn when it has already rained. So if the weather has been good to your lawn, you can keep the sprinklers off. But if the weather has been dry and there is no rain, you should irrigate your lawn.
The best way to water your lawn is long, deep, and infrequently. Giving your soil a good soaking no more than once a week forces your turfs roots to grow deep and strong to access the water as the soil dries. On the other hand, frequent and brief irrigation causes roots to spread only in the top few inches of the soil, leading to a weaker plant overall.
The best time to water is in the morning between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. before the full heat of the day. Watering early means less water is lost to evaporation, and it gives time for the turf to dry before nightfall. Watering in the evening or at night leaves grass soggy overnight, which can lead to fungal growth that damages your grass.
Also, avoid irrigating with hot water. When a garden hose sits in the summer sun, the water inside can get quite hot. Dont start irrigating with that water. Instead, empty your hose after every watering. If you forget to do that, dump the hot water outside of your lawn and wait for the water to turn cool before you start to irrigate.
Choosing A Lawn Care Company
If you donât want to do it yourself, there are many companies that maintain lawns and control pests. Some may include services marketed as organic or pesticide-free.
To choose the option best for you:
- Find out what programs and prices companies in your area offer, and what results you can expect.
- Avoid lawn care programs that apply pesticides even when pests are not present.
- If pesticides are used, make sure that they are used as part of an Integrated Pest Management program.
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