What Are Lawn Care Packages Vs Lawn Care Services
Lawn care packages , are the grouping of a number of services into a single program thats meant to meet your lawns needs.It can get confusing as some lawn care companies in Memphis, TN and Northern Mississippi do offer all of their services a la carte, meaning that youd pick and choose the ones that you want and pay for each individually. The problem with this approach is that it turns your lawn care provider into an order taker, so to speak. While some homeowners might think theyre getting a good value by picking and choosing only those services they feel they need, the truth is, most homeowners dont actually have a good understanding of what their lawn truly requires to perform its best. You could end up leaving out a really important service that might not seem like its necessary to you.The main reason a model like this would appeal to people is that they think they can save some money. But most of the time when their lawn isnt performing well, they end up adding those services anyways and may end up paying more in the long run .Since many lawn care services work together, we believe that the homeowner is best-served when a lawn care company offers a complete program. This helps you to feel confident that your lawn is getting everything that it needs at the exact time when it needs it.
Irrigation System Maintenance And Repair
Youâve definitely heard it before. The most important element for a thriving lawn is proper watering. A good lawn care company will enable to you to make the right choice of irrigation or sprinkler system, so that your lawn ends up looking great and youâre not spending a fortune on the water bill.
Work You Still Have To Do
Some lawn care services dont offer mowing services those that do usually sell it in a separate contract.
Mowing and watering properly is key to a healthy lawn:
- Dont mow grass too short. Most lawns should not be cut below a height of about 2½ to three inches.
- Mow often enough that no more than one-third of the blade is cut at a time.
- Keep your mowers blades sharp to avoid tearing grass leaves, which makes them brown and vulnerable to pests.
- Mow when grass is dry.
- Leave clippings on the lawn so they can decompose and fertilize the soil, but spread out or remove big clumps.
Grass should be watered when leaves are just close to wilting your grass is in the danger zone if you leave footprints when you walk on it.
In general, to keep grass green during the summer, make sure it gets about one inch of water per week a rain gauge can help.
Articles
Read Also: How To Get Weeds Out Of Lawn Naturally
Best Push Lawn Mowers Of 2022
If you dont mind putting in a little elbow grease, push lawn mowers are some of the best and most affordable options for small- to medium-sized lawns. Were here to help you wade through the hundreds of models on the market with this ranking of the best push lawn mowers money can buy.
Weve collected picks for any preference, whether you want something big and powerful or small and efficient. The gas-powered, electric, and reel mowers on this list represent the best combinations of power, ease of use, and price tag.
Now, lets get into the details so you can figure out which of the 10 best push lawn mowers is best for you.
Cost Of Fertilizing Your Lawn
Your lawn needs the proper nutrients to look its best and your soil does not always have enough nutrients. This is where fertilizer comes in. Fertilizing your lawn is the best way to improve the health and appearance of your lawn.Fertilizers contain the necessary minerals and nutrients that your grass needs to grow to its full potential. But it is important to note that different types of grass require different fertilizers.
- The minimum cost for lawn fertilizer is $0.08/sf
- The maximum cost for lawn fertilizer is $0.48/sf
If you do not have the time or the tools to fertilize your lawn on your own, you can hire a contractor to do the job. If you hire a contractor, the cost of fertilizing your lawn is about $12-$15/hr. You can also hire a lawn care expert or professional lawn care company, which will bring your lawn fertilizing cost up to about $60 per hour, on average. The more experience someone has, the more it will cost. That said, if you go with an expert you will do the least amount of work and you will likely get the best results.
Read Also: Where Is Lake Lawn Resort
Aerating Your Lawn At The Wrong Time
You do aerate, right? Over time, soil gets compacted by being walked on, and thatch builds up. Aerating helps loosen the soil again and allow water to more easily reach grass roots.
The right time: Aerate when soil is moist and grass is actively growing.
Why timing matters: A common mistake is aerating when soil is dry and hard, and aerators are unable to penetrate the soil deeply. Water your lawn before aerating, or wait for a good rain. Ideal conditions for aerating occur more often in spring and fall , but summer also is acceptable for well-watered lawns.
Faqs About Push Lawn Mowers
1. What is the best push lawn mower to buy?
The PowerSmart DB8621CR 21 170cc 2-in-1 gas mower offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to push lawn mowers.
2. How hard is it to push a reel mower?
Not too hard if you mow your lawn every week and dont have a lot of weeds. In fact, reel mowers are lighter than other mowers because they dont carry a power source.
3. What is the easiest lawn mower to push?
Of our top picks, the Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM-CT 17-inch 48V cordless electric mower is the easiest to push because its the lightest one that isnt a reel mower. For a mower that requires even less effort, check out self-propelled lawn mowers.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Lawn Disease
Spring And Fall Landscape Cleanup
What does lawn maintenance include besides mowing? Lots! Maybe not the most fun on your weekend to do list but certainly necessary for your lawn maintenance schedule is spring and fall landscape cleanup. Spring yard cleanup will keep your yard looking lush and healthy throughout the spring and summer months. This requires removing debris left over from the winter as well as seeing what other lawn maintenance needs doing like dethatching and overseeding a lawn area.
Landscaping fall cleanup is a lawn maintenance must to prepare your lawn for the freezing Upstate New York winter! Without landscaping fall cleanup, your hard work will go to waste and your lawn wont be ready for the next spring. Youve got to plan a full season ahead for how to keep a lush green lawn! Fall lawn maintenance includes leaf removal, mulching, pruning perennials, and other important tasks.
Controlling Moss In Your Lawn
The very wet weather over the past few years has led to a huge explosion in the moss population as moss just loves damp conditions and will thrive when the grass is growing very slowly over the Winter months.
Moss is best controlled in turf by applying iron. There are a lot of different forms of iron which can be used, but over the colder Winter months sulphate of iron is the most effective. November and February are ideal for applying dressings of iron sulphate at 15 grammes per sq metre to knock back the moss before the onset of Spring, as this allows the grass to fill in the resultant gaps very quickly when the ground warms up.
This is easiest to apply dissolved in water, then applied with a knapsack or watering can. If applying dry, best to mix with dry sand at a ratio of 4 to 1 sand/iron, as that makes it much easier to get a good even coverage. So 60 gram sand, 15 gram iron, per square meter. Get iron/sand here. Note here, if buying a ready made lawn sand, you would need to double the recommended application rate to get the same effect.
A word of caution, do not scarify to remove the moss at this stage as exposing the grass crowns to frost or cold winds can damage or even kill the grass.
It is very important to be ready for the first signs of spring as this is when, with the proper treatment, we can ensure a healthy lawn for the rest of the growing season.
You May Like: How To Find Leak In Lawn Sprinkler System
Expert Lawn Maintenance For Wisconsin Businesses
Earth Development provides lawn care and maintenance services in Green Bay, Milwaukee and other cities across Midwest, helping business owners maintain their commercial premises throughout the year. From lawn fungus treatment and soil care to regular mowing and maintenance, Earth Development offers an easy, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable landscaping services.
To find out more about how we can help you, or for a free consultation, donât hesitate to get in touch online or over the phone. Our friendly team members will be delighted to discuss your needs whether you own one small property or a chain of stores or offices throughout Wisconsin.
Types Of Push Lawn Mowers
You probably noticed that our list includes three different types of push lawn mowers: gas, electric, and reel. Heres the difference between the three:
Gas push mowers
As you can guess, gas lawn mowers run on well, gas. That means youll have to store fuel for a gas mower and refill the tank when it gets low.
Gas engines also require more maintenance than other types of mowers, since most of them need regular oil changes. Gas mowers are loud, and their emissions arent great for the environment.
On the flip side, gas engines pack the most power, and they arent limited by a batterys run time or an extension cord.
If you have a large yard with a lot of difficult terrain that needs high torque, a gas mower is your best bet.
Electric push mowers
The category of electric lawn mowers includes both battery-powered and corded models. Each type has drawbacks since batteries create time limits and cords deter movement, but each type has benefits, too.
Electric mowers are eco-friendly, quiet, and low-maintenance. For a small- to mid-sized yard , electric mowers are an excellent choice.
Reel push mowers
Reel mowers are old-school. They dont have a motor: You manually make the mower blades spin as you push it.
Reel lawn mowers are typically cheaper than other types , and theyre the most eco-friendly option since they dont use gas or electricity.
Read Also: How To Rid Lawn Of Fleas
Need Help Maintaining Or Enhancing Your Property
Fill Out Our Free Estimate Request to Get Started
Greening Your Outdoor Spaces
R& S Landscaping is a Bergen County landscaping company providing landscape maintenance, lawn health care, plant protection plans, gardening services, sprinkler installation, gutter cleaning, power washing, snow removal, and more.
Tree Services Hedge Trimming And Flower Services
Is your lawn all grass, or do you have flowerbeds, shrubbery, and ornamental trees planted, too? If thereâs more to your lawn than the turf, then you will need to make sure that all the other living organisms on your property are healthy and neatly trimmed. Another sign of a good landscaping provider is that they will suggest the species and colors of flowers to plant, so that your property looks beautiful the year round.
Also Check: When Should I Aerate My Lawn In Texas
Are Landscape Maintenance Services That Different From Company To Company
Now that you have a better idea of what should be included in landscape maintenance services to match your expectations of what your property should look like, you might be wondering what really makes one company that different from another.
After all, many companies offer landscape maintenance services in Northern Virginia.Here are a few ways that you can start to narrow the playing field and choose a company that will best meet your needs.
Yard Mowing For Regular Lawn Maintenance
The first item on every lawn maintenance schedule is regular yard mowing. Lawn mowing season can vary depending on your region and how the weather is acting that year. Lawn mowing in areas like Albany, NY, Colonie, NY, and other parts of the Capital Region typically starts in April and can extend into September or early October.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Rye Grass In Lawn
Does Cost Equate With Quality
Lawn care companies offer agronomic expertise and a convenient, time-saving service at a reasonable cost, even when compared with the do-it-yourself options. In a competitive market, prices for similar lawn care programs may differ little from company to company. A company that appears more expensive that the other may offer some services as part of its standard program which are usually designated as optional services by less expensive companies. Be wary of the company that claims to offer services similar to those of other companies at a much lower price and seems too good to be true-it probably is. Also avoid companies that do not provide a contract detailing their services and your obligations as a customer.
Desirable services offered as options by many lawn service companies:
- Spot re-seeding/re-sodding or total lawn renovation
Landscape Edging Ideas For Lawn Maintenance
Last on our list answering what does lawn maintenance include is landscape edging. Landscape edging provides a clear divider between your landscaping and the rest of your lawn. Some choose mulching to provide a visual divide between the two as its one of the best and easiest things you can do to protect and spruce up the overall look of your landscaping. Others may opt for hardscaping to have a more polished finish to their landscaping.
Pro Tip: Read this guide to learn what is the difference between hardscape and landscape!
You May Like: How Often Can You Apply Fertilizer To Your Lawn
How Much Fertilizer Is Applied During The Year
Nitrogen is the key nutrient in turf fertilization programs. Reputable lawn care companies will supply Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue, or tall fescue lawns with 3 to 4.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn per year. Potassium is sometimes supplied with the standard fertilizer program. Applications of K can help during stressful weather conditions and is actually recommended where the homeowner consistently removes grass clippings during mowing. Phosphorus has been removed from almost all fertility applications due to concerns about its environmental impact. The only period that a phosphorous application is recommended is during lawn establishment, but this should be made following a soil test result. The actual requirement for potassium and phosphorus will vary from one lawn to the next due to differences in soil type, previous use patterns and fertility practices and the need is best determined through soil testing.
What Is Lawn Care
Lawn maintenance keeps your lawn neat and sparkling, but lawn care keeps it lush and green. Lawn care routines aim to improve the bloom and vitality of lawn vegetation through the years, from turf grasses and shrub hedges to pedaled ornaments and potted plants. Lawn care is sensitive to seasonal changes therefore, it requires in-depth knowledge to do it effectively. Lawn care routines include:
- Fertilizer application
- Irrigation systems
Also Check: How Long Should I Water My Lawn In Utah
What About Liquid Versus Dry Lawn Care Products
To date, university research has not found any major agronomic differences between liquid and dry fertilizers. The bottom line is that both can accomplish the same goala high-quality lawn. The residual effect from a granular fertilizer may differ from the liquid application but that is dependent upon the type of fertilizer source used .
Professional Lawn Care: The Bottom Line
Sure, you can check all the boxes, write a huge check, and plan to see your lawn care pros at your house so often you feel like you should invite them to dinner.Some lawn care services will offer to do everything from lawn clean-up to irrigation repair to hydroseeding. But what do you really need for a green and healthy lawn, bottom line?
Fertilizer. Weed control. Grub control.Heres a closer look at the Big Three:
Recommended Reading: How To Destroy Weeds In Lawn
What Are The Types Of Nitrogen Fertilizers Used
Nitrogen fertilizers can vary in the types of plant growth and color responses that they elicit. For simplicity, nitrogen fertilizers can be categorized as supplying quickly-available or slowly-available nitrogen . Quickly-available N promotes rapid grass growth and dark green turf color relatively soon after application. The promotion of excessive growth through overuse of quickly-available N sources is undesirable from both the standpoint of increased mowing requirements and because grass hardiness and health may be reduced. Slowly-available N sources provide a slower, more uniform growth and greening response from the turf. Quickly-available nitrogen is acceptable for use during the fall and early spring months. Slowly- available nitrogen is excellent for use in the late-spring and summer months. It is important to note that slowly-available nitrogen can be supplied to turf with equal success in the liquid form, as well as the dry form. Sources of the slowly-available nitrogen now include processed animal manure and some of these products may have also obtained an organic classification depending on how they were produced. There is a need to be aware that the slowly-available sources are dependent on soil temperatures and moisture for release which is why quickly-available sources of nitrogen are recommended for early spring. Thus, a dry summer or a cool spring/early summer may reduce their rate of release and patience may be required before seeing a response.
