Summer 2018

Lawn Care:

Keeping your grass looking greener for longer...

Our lawn care programs are designed to keep lawns looking lush and beautiful while keeping pests and weeds in check. However, what happens to your lawn after we leave your property is also as important as the services we provide throughout the year. Here’s an overview of our lawn care programs as well as some tips on what you can do in your weekly maintenance to keep it looking its best.

We offer three separate comprehensive lawn care programs:

• Organic Base builds up the strength and health of your lawn naturally by utilizing natural soil supplements and organic fertilizers. It works well as both a stand-alone program and as a gateway to Pure Organic lawn care.
• Pure Organic uses natural soil supplements and 100% organic fertilizers and treatments to help create biologically sound, hearty turf.
• We also offer a Traditional lawn care program that utilizes the highest quality conventional treatments available in the industry safely and effectively to achieve a flawless looking lawn.

Now here’s what you can do:

Mowing:

Encourage your maintenance provider to do the following:

• Make sure the mower blade is sharp. A sharp blade cuts grass cleanly while a dull blade creates jagged, uneven edges that create openings for pests and diseases to enter.
• The best height to mow a lawn is 3” to 3.5” throughout spring and summer.  Cutting it too short, known as “scalping,” makes the lawn vulnerable to disease and weed infestations.
• Some lawns can be mowed every other week during the summer months (July/August). Direct your provider to instead spend time on weeding beds or other care items as an alternative.
• Mowing turf in the same direction or pattern each time can result in compacted soil and create ruts. Weeds thrive in compacted soil.

Watering/Irrigation:

• The best time to water is in the morning when the air is cooler. Water evaporates too quickly in the afternoon and watering in the evening can cause it to stick to blades of grass overnight causing fungi.
• Water until about 6 inches into the soil is moist.
• Irrigation can truly vary based upon turf species and conditions, sun exposures, soil conditions and quality. Having various zones, drip versus pop-up or rotating heads makes irrigation all the more challenging. Requirements between trees, turf and shrubs (new vs. established) are added factors.
• As arborists, we find that many installations don’t take into consideration the different and varying irrigation requirements of a landscape. Irrigation designs can focus too much on the immediate need and coverage. Like anything else, things change and develop. Irrigation should be tweaked and adapted to meet these changes.

If you have any questions about your lawn or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please contact your Almstead arborist or your local branch office.