The science of preserving nature since 1964

Is your lawn ready for next year?

The heat and drought this summer has been very challenging for lawns in our region — making them more susceptible to fungus, root pathogens and brown grass (early dormancy). A cold winter can result in further damage to your lawn. If you have a Lawn Care Program with Almstead and took advantage of Almstead's Fall Lawn Services, then you are well on your way to having a great lawn next year. Our fall services include the following:

• Core Aeration + Over-Seeding

Core aeration involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the roots of the grass (see image). Over-seeding refers to adding grass seeds directly into existing turf. It is an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the color and density of the lawn and make it less susceptible to diseases. By core aerating and over-seeding in fall, your new grass will have several months to fill in and develop roots before winter. In spring, the roots will continue to grow as soon as the ground starts to warm. By next summer, healthy grass will be naturally crowding out the weeds.

• Compost

If we also add a thin layer of compost when we seed, the seeds will have even more soil to grab onto -- and the right diet to thrive. In fact, top dressing with compost is one of the best ways to promote healthy turf, whether or not you aerate.

To keep your lawn looking beautiful in 2021 please sign and return your 2021 Lawn Service Contract — which will be mailed to you in early-January. Our holistic approach to lawn care focuses on seed, compost, pH, proper irrigation and custom-blended fertilizers to create turf that is safe, healthy and beautiful. Many of these services require timely applications through each season — so it is important for you to return your contract back to your local branch office by early-March so we can schedule our technicians accordingly.

At Almstead, we customize our programs to meet the needs of our clients and their lawns. We offer traditional lawn care, fully organic programs and organic-based options. For more information contact your local Almstead branch office or visit our website.