Spring Tips

Tip. Your lawn’s success depends on your input as well.
Tip. Make sure you have a sharp mower blade to start off the season.
Tip. Clear the sand and salt from your curb for healthier grass.
Tip. Vigorously rake your lawn every spring to remove excess thatch.
Tip. Cut your grass at a 2-1/2″–2 -3/4″ this time off year.
Tip. It is important that your lawn receives 1″ of water per week.
Tip. Watering amounts vary depending on soil type and precipitation.
Tip. Fertilize only after the ground has thawed.
Tip. Spring is a great time to fertilize.
Tip. Springtime is when we prevent crabgrass.
Tip. Core Aeration is the single best thing you can do for your lawn.
Tip. We recommend overseeding right after core aeration.
Tip. Only use the highest quality grass seed available.
Tip. When to slit seed and when to overseed.
Tip. Is spring a good time to seed?
Tip. After seeding, 90% of successful results fall on your follow up.

 

Remember that we are a team. Your lawn’s success depends on your input as well.

It takes three parts to have a successful yard: 1/3 watering, 1/3 feeding, 1/3 maintenance.

Make sure you have a sharp mower blade to start off the season.

One of the most important requirement for proper mowing is a sharp mower blade. A dull blade rips and shreds the grass instead of cutting it. Torn grass will result in browning of the blade tips and your lawn will have a dull appearance. For best results sharpen your blade 2-3 times a season. To insure consistency in your routine, we recommend that you buy an extra blade for your mower. One for the mower and one that is sharp and ready to go. You’ll never be without a sharp blade.

Clear the sand and salt from your curb line to encourage healthier grass.

Between the heat radiating from the street in the summer and the abuse of the snow and sand/salt from the snow plows, your curb line is the toughest area to grow grass. We recommend that you sweep off your blvd each spring and wash off the edge as soon as the snow melts. This will help keep your lawn looking better in this tough area. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

Vigorously rake your lawn every spring to remove excess thatch.

An annual and vigorous spring raking removes unnecessary dead grass that, if left alone, will build-up and create a thick mat called “thatch”. A thatch layer that reaches 1/2″ – 1″ blocks water, nutrients and oxygen from reaching the roots and results in disease and potential death of the grass plant. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

Cut your grass at a 2-1/2″–2 -3/4″ this time off year.

Mower height varies depending on the time of year and the weather. When it is cool (50°-69°) you can cut shorter (2-1/2″–2-3/4″), but remember the longer the grass blade is, the healthier and thicker your lawn will be. Don’t forget, the best weed control is a thick lawn. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

This time of year it is important that your lawn receives 1″ of water per week.

April showers bring May flowers and green grass, only if it rains. Mother Nature is not always reliable. But be careful; over-watering can create severe disease problems. If you have an underground sprinkler system, please do not leave it on autopilot. Adjust the frequency and the duration when we experience rainy periods. We want to conserve water just as much as we want to protect our lawns from dryness.

Watering amounts vary greatly depending on your soil type and precipitation.

Sandy soils require more frequent and shorter duration watering (every 2-3 days). Clay based soils can be watered for a longer duration less frequently (once to twice a week). Following these guidelines will give you a good foundation on proper watering. However, always pay attention to your lawns appearance, if it needs more water, you will know.

Fertilize only after the ground has thawed and temperatures have reached 50 degrees.

We recommend waiting until the ground has thawed and temperatures reach 50 degrees before fertilizing. If you fertilize before the ground has thawed, any rain will carry away the application polluting our lakes and streams. We want to see your lawn green, but not at the expense of the environment. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

Spring is a great time to fertilize

The first fertilization application is very important. Always use a lower nitrogen fertilizer in the spring. This will insure a balanced application that will be more useful to the grass plants and will help to reduce excessive top growth. Fertilizers that contain a micronutrients like the mineral iron, will promote a deeper green color. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

Springtime is when we prevent crabgrass.

If crabgrass has been a problem, you can prevent it at the same time you fertilize. We control crabgrass using a dry pre-emergent weed control coated on the fertilizer that prevents the crabgrass from sprouting. The best time to attack crabgrass is before its germination period which is from April until the end of May. NOTE: Do not treat areas with pre-emergents that you are planning on seeding. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

Core Aeration is the single best thing you can do for your lawn.

The healthiest lawns are aerated every year. Core aeration promotes root development and improves your lawns thickness. Reduces thatch, relieves soil compaction and builds disease and drought resistance. Your lawn is a lot like your body. If you get regular exercise, you stay healthier. Core aeration is to your lawn as exercise is to your body. That is why golf courses core aerate each year.

After-aeration results:

• Immediately reduced soil compaction.
• Allowing much needed oxygen, nutrients and water to reach the roots.
• Thatch layer begins to decompose faster.
• Encourages roots to move rapidly to the open areas,
• Growing longer and sprouting out more grass plants,
• Which in turn thickens your lawn.

Holes of an aeration will close after approximately 7 days thus giving the seed the bed it needs to germinate. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

If your lawn needs overall thickening, we recommend overseeding right after core aeration.

It is a perfect time for the seed to find its way into the soil and grow. After aeration, premium quality seed can be applied to your lawn using a rotary spreader. Seeds fall into the holes produced by the aeration and start to grow. Results from this service are new growth and improved lawn thickness. We consistently see excellent results with our clients’ lawns when they follow this extra step each fall.

Only use the highest quality grass seed available.

There should be 0% weed seed. Make sure you know which seed you need. There are shade and or sunny blends Seed emerges in 7-28 days depending on the variety. Be patient, water and it will come. We recommend overseeding your lawn every 1-3 years depending on its condition.
Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

When to slit seed and when to overseed

Slit Seeding is the process of planting grass seed below the surface of the soil. A row of spinning metal blades cut rows into the ground, much like a farmer uses a disk to prepare his field to accept the crop seed. This service is required in areas that are extremely thin or bare. Overseeding is a service performed after core aeration. Premium quality seed is applied to your lawn with a rotary spreader. Seeds fall into the holes produced by the aeration and start to grow. Results from this service are new growth and improved lawn thickness. Holes of an aeration will close after approximately 7 days thus giving the seed the bed it needs to germinate. This service is required in lawns that are in need of a general thickening, but are overall in good condition. We recommend overseeding your lawn every 1-3 years depending on its condition. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

Is spring a good time to seed?

The hardest part of successful seeding in the spring is controlling weeds that grow in the same areas your new grass is emerging. If your main concern is weed control, we suggest fall seeding (August through early October). If your main concern is growing grass, we explain that they will need to patrol the seeded areas for weeds weekly and pull them. The new grass cannot survive weed control treatments. If you have the ability to commit to consistency, spring can be an excellent time to establish thin or bare areas. NOTE: General overseeding is recommended spring or fall. Overseeding provides general thickening and is not the same as slit seeding. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.

After seeding, 90% of successful results fall on your follow up input.

Please follow all the recommendations below to ensure positive results.

• Seed emerges in 14-28 days. Be patient, water and it will come.
• Mower height should be at 2-1/2″–3″. Do not bag your lawn when mowing the first two times after seeding service.
• When renovation service was provided, do not mow the seeded areas. This allows the new growth to emerge undisturbed. Once the new growth is tall enough to cut, begin cutting at this point and continue as usual with your existing turf.
• When Overseeding service was provided, mow at your normal weekly intervals. Please remember it is very important to not bag the first two times after overseeding was done. It is vitally important that you water about 1-3 times per day to keep your lawn moist the first 4 weeks. Water for 15-20 min. per time, just enough to keep the seed in the ground moist at all times. If it rains, skip watering until the next day. You will know by your lawn’s appearance if you need to be more frequent. Go to our request estimate page to be contacted for an estimate.