March 29,2015 - Snow Mold
Now that the snow has melted away, one of the first things to look for is snow mold. This is a type of fungus/turf disease that will kill the grass after the snow melts. Be on the lookout for any matted down gray areas on your lawn - typically circles of 3-12" in diameter.
Though bluegrass and fescue are rarely affected, if you spot the mold, it is important to lightly rake these areas out. This is the first maintenance step which will aid in the prevention of the mold from suffocating the lawn which would lead to thinness and bare spots.
March 22, 2015 - Happy Spring Everyone!
Happy Spring Everyone! Warmer weather is around the corner, which means your lawn and landscaping will both need your attention soon! Contact us today for lawn mowing, landscaping, bark and other outdoor services
April 28, 2013 - Mowing
There is more to a healthy lawn than just starting up the mower each week to keep the grass cut. A properly balanced and slow release fertilizer plan is important. Equally as critical is the importance of proper mowing equipment and techniques.
Maintaining sharp mower blades are important for a healthy lawn. If you mow with dull blades, the grass will “tear” rather than “cut”. When this happens, your lawn looks less attractive but more importantly can be susceptible to disease. Using “mulching blades” rather than bagging can help provide your lawn with additional nutrients.
Mowing at proper heights is also an important factor for a healthy. During the spring and summer, you will want to leave the grass longer (around 3-3.25”). Mowing at these levels will assist in developing a deeper root system and provide a longer leaf to collect sun nutrients. It will also help slow the growth of weeds such as crabgrass by limiting the amount of sunlight they receive. However, allowing the grass to grow too long will cause it to become top heavy, causing it to fall over. When the grass falls over, it can trap moisture leading to fungus. It can also block the sunlight from lower blades, leading to browning and increased thatch. During the fall, the mowing height can be reduced back down (around 2-2.5”). This will help reduce leaves from getting caught in the grass but more importantly, will reduce the chances of cool season fungal disease such as snow mold.
When you mow, the grass lays over slightly. Alternate the directions you mow with each mowing so you do not cause the grass to lie over excessively. Alternating directions can also help to reduce the wear and compaction on your soil.
At Precision Landscape Management, our blades are sharpened on a daily basis, we have special mulching blades, and our mower heights are adjusted to reflect the changing weather patterns throughout a mowing season. You are in good hands with our expert lawn crews.
April 21, 2013 - Mulch/Bark Installation
Now is the time to get signed up for a mulch/bark installation! Mention this post and get 10% off any install over 5 yards.
Mulch/bark is a vital part of the health of your plants and trees; especially if they recently been planted. Here are a few reasons you want to keep up on your mulch/bark annually:
- Helps to insulate the soil and protect from extreme heat/cold
- Retains water to keep the roots moist and reduce drought between waterings.
- Prevents soil compaction
- Aides in keeping weeds and grass out of the beds – both for cosmetics and reduce any root competition
- Provides that final touch for improved curb appeal to your landscaping!
At Precision Landscape Management, we don’t just show up and throw the mulch/bark in your beds. We take the time to clean and prep the beds from debris. We also run a mechanical bed edger along all the natural bed edges for a more defined look and to aide in reducing weed/grass infestations. When the job is completed, we take the time to make sure the exteriors of the beds are clean and free from excess bark.
April 14, 2013 - Spring rain and flooding
Though it is easy to want to hide behind the windows with the rain and cold weather the past few weeks; it is a great opportunity for you to assess your landscaping for problem areas. Low or poor drainage areas which hold water will tend to be problematic for your typical plants and shrubs. Take pictures and make notes of these areas now, so you can address them later in the season.
We can help correct the problem through water diversion or offer a plant design plan that incorporates flood tolerable plants.
April 5, 2013 - The dreaded crabgrass
For a season long healthy lawn, it is important to have your lawn fertilizer plan in place early. The first program you need to be thinking about is the crabgrass preventative.
Crabgrass needs to be treated in the early spring to minimize the germination; preventing the problem later in the year. Typically crabgrass preventative lasts 90 days. Through our partners, we make sure your lawn gets two applications of preventative per season! Most other fertilizer companies do not do this.
Crabgrass can be spotted by its spreading stems with wide flat leaf blades that lie on the ground. Crabgrass re-establishes from seed every spring (hence the pre-emergent application). Crabgrass will begin to germinate when the average daily soil temperatures reach 57-64 degrees at a one-inch depth. Do not miss this window! You need to do an application before this happens!
Stay tuned for information on grubs and slow-release fertilizer programs and why they are your best option!
March 23, 2013 - Lawn mowing and fertilizer sign-up
Make sure you sign up for our lawn mowing and fertilizer services soon! Our routes are filling fast.
March 19, 2013 - Snow mold; lawn mowing; fertilizer
Snow .. snow... go away!
As the snow is melting off, one of the first things to look for is snow mold. This is a type of fungus/turf disease that will kill the grass after the snow melts.
Be on the lookout for any matted down gray areas on your lawn – typically circles of three to twelve inches in diameter.
Though bluegrass and fescue are rarely affected, if you spot the mold, it is important to lightly rake these areas out. This is the first maintenance step which will aid in the prevention of the mold from suffocating the lawn leading to thinness and bare spots.
Don't forget to get signed up for fertilizer and lawn mowing services for this season!
