Lawn Care In Autumn Season
From early autumn through to the later part of the season, the lawn is going through several changes. In the early autumn, the lawn is still actively growing, although it is slowing down the rapid growth pace of a;healthy lawn;during the peak summer months.;
Early fall is a good time to prepare any dead patches of lawn and have it ready for spring growth. Start by removing any of the dead grass in the area, including any and all thatch that is present. Use a hoe, a garden shovel, or trowel to loosen up the soil and to allow you to mix in compost on the surface.;
Add about an inch to an inch and a half of compost over the loose soil, then turn it into the already broken up two to three inches of soil in the dead patch. This provides the organic matter than not only adds nutrients for the grass but also helps to hold moisture in the soil.;
Choose the right type of grass seed for sun exposure and your existing lawn. Avoid using a different seed as the grass in those patches will grow in with a different texture and color, and may require different;mowing requirements.;
The seed is then scattered on the surface at the recommended rate. Use a small rake to distribute the grass seed about a half an inch into the soil, then apply a thin layer of grass clippings to the surface and water to soak the soil. Keep the soil in the patched area moist but not wet until the grass sprouts and reaches at least an inch in height.;
Autumn Fertilization Guide
Autumn Watering Guide
What If It Rains After I Fertilize My Lawn
The answer not very cut and dry, but here is the bottom line: The vast majority of the time, rain after a fertilizer application is not a problem at all. Water helps activate your fertilizer. It helps move the granules deep into the thatch where it starts to break down so that it can be soaked into the root system.
Mowing And Lawn Care Tips
Before mowing in spring, inspect your lawn mower and perform any necessary maintenance, such as changing the oil or spark plugs. Make sure your lawn mower blade is sharp to guarantee a clean cut. Be safe, and always remove the spark plugs before doing any work on your lawn mower.;
- Start mowing when the ground is dry enough and grass is long enough to require cutting. Avoid mowing too low: Grass cut too short allows sunlight to reach the soil and encourages weed seeds to germinate.;
- Consider setting the mowing height high enough to remove only the top one-third of the grass blades. Longer grass blades encourage deeper, healthier roots, but may require mowing more frequently.;
- Check your mowers manual to see if it has a recommended setting for your specific type of grass.;
- Consider lawn mowing early in the evening, when the temperatures are usually cooler and any fog or dew has dried. Dont mow when its raining or just after a rain, as the mower will not cut your lawn evenly and may become clogged with clumps of wet grass.;
- Vary the pattern each time you mow. This helps prevent ruts from forming and keeps the grass from always bending in the same direction.;
- Mowing should be done when your grass needs it, not on a set schedule. Grass usually needs to be mowed more often in the spring and early summer than at the end of the growing season.;
Tip: Make sure your lawnmower’s tank is empty of gas at the end of mowing season so you can start the next cutting season with a fresh tank.
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Fertilizing In The Fall
Lawns are less likely to brown if you apply a slow-release fertilizer in early fall. When shopping for these fertilizers, buy products with controlled-release nitrogen. The steady release of nitrogen helps grass retain its green color. The amount to apply varies slightly based on the type of turfgrass you are using. Most individual applications, however, are around 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Where possible, use fertilizers that also contain potassium which is known to aid in root growth, drought tolerance, and disease resistance. For example, you may apply a 24-0-10 granular fertilizer where those numbers indicate the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, respectively.
A general tip here is that you should never fertilize a dry lawn. Instead, fertilize after rainfall or after you have finished watering for the best results. Be careful not to miss any spots in your lawn when fertilizing to facilitate uniform growth of grasses. For best results, consider using a walk-behind drop spreader although you could still opt for a crank-style broadcaster if the former is not available.
Give Your Grass The Correct Amount Of Water
Watering your lawn might seem like a no-brainer, but youll need to be careful not to under- or overwater your grass. Tip: Water your lawn early in the morning as opposed to during the day. This ensures the afternoon sun wont evaporate the moisture away before it can get down into the soil. An oscillating sprinkler is a great option to help maintain a green lawn by providing more even water distribution.
When watering your grass, make sure to look out for areas where water is pooling or the grass is discoloured, and adjust your watering accordingly. If certain areas are pooled with water, it means theyre oversaturated and you should be watering them less. If patches are discoloured, it means the opposite: theyre not getting enough moisture.
Either way, your sprinkler might be the problemits not hitting enough areas of your lawn. The Gardena ZoomMaxx Spike Sprinkler can help fix that, offering up to 2,300 square feet of coverage.
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Step : Get Business Insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your companys financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If youre unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so its a great place to start for your business.
Learn more about General Liability Insurance.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, its a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Recommended: Learn what business insurance for your Lawn Care Business will cost.
Seed And Lime The Lawn As Needed
Plant grass seed in bare spots in your lawn or wherever growth is sparse. Consider seeding while applying a slow release nitrogen fertilizer. Early spring and fall are ideal times for reseeding.;
- Spring is the best time to test your yards pH to determine if your soil is too acidic. Most grasses grow best when the soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.2. If your soil is too acidic, you can see an influx of moss, weeds, diseases and insect pests.;
- Use a soil test kit to find your soil’s pH or ask a county extension agent if he or she can test for you.;
- In many parts of the country, lime application can make the soil less acidic and help the grass better absorb fertilizers and nutrients from the soil.;
- Soil pH changes over time, so retest yearly until your results are balanced. Afterwards, an established lawn can be tested every three years or so.;
- Spring and fall are the best times to add lime to a lawn that needs it. Use soil test results to know how much lime to apply and follow the directions on the lime package.;
Tip: Grass planted in spring may need extra watering, weeding and other attention during the summer. Fall seeding requires less fuss.;
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Add Lawn Edgings Mulch And Stone
Give your yard a nice clean look by installing lawn edgings using wood, brick or stone.
Use Super Pro Lawn Edging to create a space to place mulch, build a garden or add some interlocking stone with an underlay of limestone screening to create a different look. The Technoflex Landscape Edging is another excellent option, as its eco-friendly and perfect for lawns, patios or driveways thanks to its flexible fit.
Can I Write Off A Lawn Mower
To depreciate your mower, you spread its purchase price over a number of years, and then write off a portion of the purchase price every year. Depending on the type of mower you buy, how and where you use it, and the depreciation system you choose, you could write it off over a period of five, six or 10 years.
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Why Is Landscape Edging Important To Install
Landscape edging is a key element to a well-maintained lawn.
Edging creates a clear and attractive line separating the grass from garden beds.
There are many different types of lawn edging materials, and if youre having edging professionally installed the cost will depend upon the linear feet of edging installed, and the material youll use.
Popular types include stone, wood, plastic, concrete, or brick.
Landscape edging usually costs between $700 and $1,700, installed. Again, the size of your property and the type of edging youll use will impact how much youll pay.
Keep Cutting But To The Correct Height
Don’t put that mower away yet. Grass continues to grown up to the first hard frost, and so will need regular cuts to keep it at an ideal 2½- to 3-inch height. If you let it get too long, it will mat and be vulnerable to fungi like snow mold.
Cutting grass too short is just as bad, because it curtails the root systemroot depth is proportional to cutting heightand impedes the lawn’s ability to withstand winter cold and dryness. Regular mowing also gets rid of those pesky leaves, chopping them up and leaving behind a soil-enhancing mulch.
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Tree Pruning Or Trimming
Dont neglect the trees on your property. Its essential that you have them pruned every winter so that you wont end up with any dying branches.
This is a safety issue, and it will also encourage green growth when the spring arrives.
Beyond this, trees that are limbed-up and pruned allow more light to get to your lawn, which will improve the health and thickness of your lawn. It also just makes your property look better.
On average, homeowners with trees on their properties spend between about $292 and $638 to have tree branches pruned and to get their trees limbed up.
Beyond this number from my lawn care pricing chart, the exact price youll pay depends on the number of trees they have and the size of the trees.
Do A Walkthrough Of The Property
Providing an estimate over the phone can be difficult. Without being able to see the condition of the property or accurately determine the size, you risk providing an estimate thats either too low or too high.
Use this as an opportunity to assess the lawns condition and whether youll need to do any extra work, like service an area a customer forgot to mention or do a mini clean-up before you start a job.
Also Check: What To Use For Grubs In Lawn
Fill Bare Lawn Patches
Rather than letting bare patches spoil the look of your lawn its easy to sow grass seed over the raked soil. Alternatively, make fillers from unused turf. When reshaping the lawn, collect up the strips and place them 5cm apart in a compost-filled seed tray, then grow them on outside or in a cold frame.
To replace the bare patch, cut out a square or rectangle around the area and, using a hand trowel, dig up the soil in the rectangle to whatever depth of soil your new turf strip is. Gently lay the turf, cut to fit, over the patch. Firm it down so that there are no gaps and your new turf is no higher or lower than your existing lawn.
Watch Alan Titchmarshs No Fuss Guide to repairing a lawn patch and youll have a ship-shape sward in no time:
Lawn Care Service Prices
Lawn care professionals provide many different service outside of just mowing. Depending on where you live, and how long its been since your yard has been maintained, some additional services may be needed. Let’s take a look at some common lawn services and their prices:
- Lawn Mowing: Average cost $25 – $50
- Tree Trimming: Average cost $250 – $500
- Lawn Aeration: Average cost $80 – $175
- Lawn Weeding: Average cost $20 – $40 /hour
- Lawn Winterization: Average cost $350
- Lawn Fertilizing: Average cost $40 – $60 /application
- Lawn Seeding: Average cost for professional $700
- Leaf Removal: Average cost $50 – $80
- Landscaping: Average cost between $3,000 and $15,950
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Lawn Care Estimates: A Step
Providing accurate and consistent estimates to your clients is essential as a lawn care service provider. Not only does it help you to make sure you have realistic profit margins, but it also helps clients to understand exactly what theyll be paying for.
Eventually, you may get a feel for estimating jobs, but when youre first starting out, it can be a challenge. We spoke to lawn care pros Jason Creel from Lawn Care Life and Ed Ramsden from Enviromasters Lawn Care to make a step-by-step guide on how to estimate lawn care jobs.
In this resource, well cover:
- The core steps to making accurate estimates
- How to estimate property sizes
- Converting estimates into quotes
Fertilizing: Feed What Your Lawn Needs
Sunshine and water can only do so much to make your landscape healthy and green. Sometimes, your yard needs a little boost of nutrients provided by fertilizer. A trip to your local gardening store can yield a dizzying array of fertilizer choices that promise to help your landscape grow big and lush, but even the best fertilizer wont help you if you dont use it properly. Follow these steps to ensure that you feed your lawn what it needs:
- Check your soil pH often. Instead of flying blind and guessing what your landscape needs, ask it with a pH test available at your local gardening store. If your soil is too basic, use acidic fertilizers to help balance it out. If your soil is too acidic, choose a lime treatment instead.
- Only fertilize when neededusually only twice per year. Fertilize cool climate grasses in the spring or summer and warm season grasses in the fall or winter.
- Consider using compost to help feed and insulate your plants. Compost is packed with nutrients and is an eco-friendly way to keep your greenery happy.
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Mow When Grass Is Dry
Ideally, mow when grass is dry. Mowing a wet lawn doesnt harm the grass, but it doesnt yield the best results. Wet grass fills and clogs a mower deck. It also has a tendency to fall over and clump together as you mow, creating an uneven cut. Watch for clumps of wet grass that fall off the mower. Remove these from the lawn after mowing to avoid killing grass. Always avoid mowing in soggy soil, or you risk creating wheel ruts and tearing up grass. If you must mow the lawn when its damp, treat the underside of your mower with oil or silicone spray to help prevent grass from sticking. Also, make sure your mower blade is sharp to avoid ripping grass out of soil.
How To Start A Lawn Care Business
A lawn care business offers the services of cutting grass lawns, trimming around the edges, removal of debris, and maintenance of turf, which includes fertilization, weed control, and pest control.;Most lawn care businesses offer regular service on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly schedule depending on the maintenance needs of the customers. Services may be offered to residential customers, commercial customers, or both.
Learn how to start your own Lawn Care Business and whether it is the right fit for you.
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2021-03-11
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What Are Some Skills And Experiences That Will Help You Build A Successful Lawn Care Business
One way to attract customers is to make your own lawn look spectacular. By practicing on your own lawn you will be able to learn the skills needed to keep a lawn in perfect condition. All of the information is readily available on the Internet, which enables any person interested in this business to be self-taught and to improve their skills.
How To Manage Chemical And Fertilizers In Lawn Care
This is another area where a landscaping and;lawn care;service offers an advantage. They use specialized types of chemicals or environmentally-friendly treatment options that are effective in eliminating the issue from your lawn. Many of the treatment options provided in local garden shops are less effective. If misused or applied incorrectly, these products can be toxic to pets and people, and they can also damage your lawn and flower beds.;
Specific insects that are common problems for many locations in the country include cinch bugs, June bugs, Japanese beetles, the larva of the Billbug, crickets, and grasshoppers can eat your grass or feed on the moisture in the grass, causing dead patches throughout the lawn.;
Grubs also can cause problems in the lawn, but they attack under the surface and destroy the root structure of the grass. This results in small to large patches of grass that are dead and are easy to pull up out of the ground. Detecting this type of problem means removing the grass and looking for the grubs in the soil.
Mold and fungi in the lawn are also very damaging to even healthy grass. Typically, these issues are problematic during very wet seasons, if there is heavy thatch in the lawn, or if there is excessive watering of the lawn.
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