Ward D asked:


What do Chemlawn and other lawn care companies do to your lawn that can’t be done yourself? With products from Home Depot Lowe’s etc?

Ashley

anonymous asked:


Most homeowners would love to gaze out at a beautifully landscaped lawn and yard. It is not as hard to achieve an attractive outdoor living area as you might think. With the proper maintenance and lawn care, your landscape can provide a lovely backdrop to your home.

Since your lawn will be one of the biggest focal points of your landscape, proper lawn care will keep that large area lush and green. If your lawn looks good, it won’t be as difficult to make the rest of your yard look good as well. Proper lawn care to enhance your landscape is not that difficult, as long as you understand a few basic principles about how to keep your lawn healthy.

A Healthy Lawn Is A Happy Lawn

The first step in caring for your lawn and landscape is ensuring that you have a healthy soil for planting. All plants require certain nutrients in the soil they grow in, along with particular soil conditions. For example, some plants like a sandy soil, where others prefer dirt that is rich in nutrients and holds water well. Soil requirements for lawn can vary based on the type of grass you plant as well.

It is best to check with a local nursery or garden center to learn what your lawn specifically requires. You can also pick up a soil test to make sure that your ground is providing the best balance for your lawn. The healthier your soil, the lower maintenance your lawn and landscaping care will be.

Next, you want to provide irrigation for your lawn. Water is a vital element, and few climates will provide sufficient water without supplemental irrigation. Most lawns require about an inch of rain per week. If you are in doubt as to whether Mother Nature is providing enough rain, you can use a rain gauge, and water your grass when necessary.

If you do turn to irrigation, always try to water in the early morning hours, since this is the healthiest time of day for your lawn to take a drink. Keep in mind that healthy roots will require less water, so aeration is an important step in caring for your lawn and landscape. Aeration pokes holes into the ground to allow nutrients access to the roots of your plantings. It should be done every two or three years.

Lawn care is a key factor in a beautiful landscape. A lush, green lawn can be the focal point of your yard and offer space for playing and entertaining. With a little effort, you can keep your lawn healthy for a long, long time.



Sara

rapha76 asked:


I would like some advice as to what to do about my lawn so that it looks good in the spring. Right now the lawn has a lot of weeds and some bare spots. Basically, I need to grow new grass, feed what’s already there and prevent weeds in the spring but I don’t know when and what I should apply to do this. Please don’t recommend a lawn care company. I am not looking for the perfect lawn but I know there are things I could be doing to improve it. I have a spreader and I’m all ready to get to work. Thanks for your help!

Francisco

Michelle Bery asked:


For those who relish the idea of entrepreneurship, the start of your own small business can be enormously freeing – both financially and emotionally. Of course, owning and operating a successful business means initially finding a business idea that will meet a need while generating enough of a cash flow to be financially viable. A lawn care business can be a wonderful business, both in terms of the demand for its services and the possibilities for a lucrative return on investment.

Clearly, the first step in determining whether or not a lawn care business is for you, is examining your enjoyment of such work. Starting a business built on financial goals rather than your love of the business is destined for failure. If you truly love to work outdoors, to bring creativity to the table, to nurture a lawn into health and vitality, then a lawn care business will bring you much more than cash. If you love what you do on a daily basis then you will never work another day in your life; because when you do what you love it doesn’t feel like work.

One thing you should know up front before beginning a lawn care business is the non-traditional hours that will be required of you. Many of your customers will require your services over the weekend; some lawn maintenance may need to be done during early morning hours – or later when the sun has set. While you may be successful enough at some point to hire employees who can help offset the workload for you, initially it may just be you. Be prepared for some long days and weeks early on in your lawn care business as you build your customer base.

In the beginning of your lawn care business you may consider keeping your full-time job as you work after hours building your business. Once you begin receiving a steady stream of work you can leave your full-time job and concentrate solely on your new venture. In an effort to build business, it may be wise to offer a variety of services; mowing, weeding, raking, leaf blowing – all of these can keep you busy throughout the year.

If you feel that a lawn care business is right for you begin by doing a vast amount of research regarding start-up costs, proper equipment, fee schedules, and insurance. Hiring a lawyer is a wise idea as he/she can assist you setting up proper financial accounts and more.

As you begin this journey into a new career, you may find that a lawn care business is exactly what you’ve wanted to do all along.



Carol

Tyler O asked:


I am 18 and I’m getting into lawn care with two other guys. None of us have much money and between us we have a couple of mowers, a couple of blowers, and a few weedeaters. We don’t even have a trailer to haul all of this around so to start out we will have to stay local. We do have 600 business cards that we will be passing out soon though and ten clients all within our local residential area.

Help me out. What kind of things should I do?

Georgia

J L asked:


Working on a circular for a retail company that is featuring grass & lawn care supplies for spring. Any suggestions on a catchy headline?
Currently they’re using “Spring Fever Sale” but are looking for something that focuses on lawn-care.

Kathleen

Bruce Knight asked:


Natural Lawn Care – Get your lawn off Drugs!

By Bruce Knight

GreenTerraFirma.com

Your Soil

Similar to Greening Your Garden, the basics of lawn care start with your soil. If you haven’t had a soil sample taken in the past 5 years, this is where you need to start. Many local Garden Centers carry soil kits. The do-it-yourself kits will provide you with a bare minimum of information. You should really send a soil sample away to a lab for an “organic” analysis. An organic analysis will tell you exactly how much of each “amendment” you need to add to your soil to bring it up to par. A “regular” soil analysis tends to include only the PH level and the three main nutrient levels you can correct with fertilizers – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Ideally, you should take your soil sample in the spring.

PH of Soil

Most grasses like a ph level of 6.5 which is slightly acidic. A ph of 7.0 is neutral. Dandelions on the other hand, like soil with a ph level of 7.5, slightly alkaline. Thus a proper ph level will support the growth of your grass and at the same time retard the growth of dandelions. Dolomitic lime is used to increase the alkalinity of the soil, where magnesium and calcium are also needed. Hi-cal lime increases the alkalinity where the soil has adequate magnesium. Flowers of sulphur is used to increase the acidity of the soil.

Organic Fertilizers

Fertilizers list the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorous & Potassium on the bag, such as 7-7-7. Soil also requires other macro-nutrients including sulphur, calcium and magnesium and trace elements such as iron, boron and zinc.

Organic Nitrogen Sources:

Canola seed meal: (6-2-1) maximum of 5 kilograms/10 sq meters (10lb/100 sq ft). Lasts 5 months.

Fish meal: (10.5-6-0) max 2.5 kg/10 sq mtr (5lb/100 sq ft). Lasts 6-8 months.

Blood meal: (12.5-1-3) max 1.5kg/10 sq mtr (3lb/100 sq ft). Lasts 4 months.

Organic Phosphorous Sources:

Bone meal: (3-20-0) plus 20-30% calcium. Max 2.5 kg/10 sq mtr ( 5lb/100 sq ft). Lasts more than 12 months.

SingleSuperPhosphate: (0-20-0) plus 20% calcium & 12% sulphur. Max 2.5kg/10 sq mtr (5lb/100 sq ft). Starts to release in 2-3 months.

Organic Potassium Sources:

Kelp meal: (1-0-1.2) plus 33% trace minerals. Max 0.5kg/10 sq mtr (1lb/100 sq ft). Lasts 6-12 months.

Wood ashes: (0-0-1 to 0-0-10) Raises PH level also. Max 1 kg/10 sq mtr (2lb/100 sq ft). Lasts more than 12 months.

Compost – that old black magic

All soils benefit from nutrient rich applications of compost at any time. Compost from rotted organic matter is the best all round soil conditioner.It improves drainage, provides plant nutrients and provides beneficial micro-organisms.Aply any time of the year and often.

Watering

Most people water their lawns to much. Lawns need about one inch or water per week. If you haven’t received enough rain in the past week to make up a full inch then you can add your own rain water from your rain barrels. One deep watering is much better then short spurts of water. Soaking the soil once a week will encourage deep root growth which will withstand the dry periods better.

Water early in the morning before it gets to hot and the water evaporates. Don’t water at dusk as this leaves the grass wet at night which can encourage disease.

Cutting

Don’t cut your grass shorter than 3 inches. Longer grass crowds out the weeds and can withstand pest attacks better. Leave nitrogen rich grass clippings on the lawn to feed it.

Aeration

A major cause of weed problems is compact soil. The compact soil stresses and kills the roots of your grasses, allowing weeds to move in and take their place. Aerating the soil allows oxygen to penetrate and restores proper drainage. Most lawns should be aerated at least twice a year, once early in the spring and once in the fall.

After the spring aeration, top-dress with screen compost and pest-resistant grass seed. Immediately after aerating in the fall, apply organic fertilizers as needed. A mid-season aeration is recommended for lawns with heavy thatch.

Use an aerator that leaves a “plug” of dirt on your lawn. By removing some of the soil you are sure to get air and water down into the soil. aerators that just use “spines” to make a hole could compact your ground further and the holes can quickly fill back in.

De-thatching

Thatch is a dense layer of dead grass stems and roots compacted on the surface of the soil. It is resistant to decay. A thick layer of thatch tends to prevent water from soaking into the soil.

Thatch, thicker than a half inch encourages insects and disease. De-thatch in the FALL. If you discover in the spring that you have a thick layer of thatch, aerate and wait for fall. De-thatching will create some stress for your lawn. It will help if you add a layer of compost afterwards.

Insects

Ants

Ants are attracted to nutritionally poor, dry soils, low in organic matter. Generally, if you increase the organic matter in your soil by top-dressing with compost, your soil will retain more moisture and the ant problem will take care of itself. You can apply sand, borax or bone meal to the mounds also.

Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs like lots of thatch, dry grass roots and soil low in nitrogen. Aerate in spring and summer and de-thatch in fall. If you have hordes of chinch bugs and they are killing patches of your lawn, put a capful of dishwashing soap in a sprinkling can filled with water and drench the problem area. Then lay a piece of white flannel over the problem area. The chinch bugs will cling to the flannel as they try to escape the soap. In 15 to 20 minutes, vacuum the flannel or rinse in a bucket of insecticidal soap. Sounds crazy but it works.

Sod Webworm Moths

If you notice small whitish moths darting about, you likely have sod webworms. Best action is to aerate and top-dress with endophytic grass and de-thatch in the fall. If you need more help that this, you can try introducing beneficial nematodes as a “natural” control.

White Grubs

These grubs are soft and white, with a C-shaped body. They can be from a quarter inch to 3 inches long. And they can cause patches of your lawn to turn brown and die. The best defense is a dense healthy lawn. De-thatch, aerate and keep surface moisture to a minimum by watering deeply and infrequently.

Milky Spore Disease – a naturally occurring bacterium will control white grubs for years once well established in your soil. You can also try introducing beneficial nematodes.

Beneficial Nematodes

Beneficial nematodes are nature’s way of effectively controlling the larvae stage (white grubs) of the Common Chafer, European Chafer, Japanese Beetle, Asiatic Garden Beetle, Black Vine Weevil, Strawberry Root Weevil, plus May & June Beetles.

They are a safe and sensible way to reduce white grubs infestations and other pest insects while not harming your grass or beneficial insects.

How to apply: normally you just add them to water and spray onto the lawn. Follow the instructions from your supplier. A package of 50 million nematodes will cover 2500 sq. ft. or 250 sq. metres.

Weeds

Most weed problems can be attributed to poor soil conditions. Look after the soil and you also look after the weeks. Aerate, de-thatch, check PH levels, add compost.

Chickweed

This annual plant sends out tangled stems that root rapidly in acidic, moist soil. Check your ph level and adjust for acidity. Hand pull the weeds and your problem will soon disappear.

Clover

All clovers are extremely beneficial to lawns. The fix nitrogen in the soil and are often planted as “green manure”. Clovers attract beneficial nectar feeding insects. Think twice before you decide to do away with this “weed”. If you are determined to get rid of the clover, make a solution of one part vinegar and one part liquid fertilizer (fish fertilizer is best). ****** the patch of clover with this mixture. The clover and grass will turn brown, but the fertilizer will bring back the grass.

Crabgrass

This is a sign of close mowing and poor aeration. Improve your soil to get rid of the crabgrass and pull by hand.

Creeping Charlie

Creeping charlie likes mostly shady areas. To get rid of it, increase drainage by aerating, de-thatching and adding screened compost. Allow soil to dry in affected areas between watering.

Dandelions

Dandelions attract the parasitic wasp that helps to keep down caterpillar, fly maggot and earwig populations.

You can control dandelions by pulling by hand, checking the ph levels of the soil and mowing the lawn before the dandelions go to seed.

Thistle

Thistle has a deep root that cannot be destroyed easily. It must be dug out completely as any little pieces left in the ground will grow anew. Fill holes with topsoil and sprinkle with ryegrass.

For more articles like this, please visit: GreenTerraFirma



Bobby

Kyle L asked:


I was thinking that an all electric lawn service would be cool. do you think it would sell or do people really care about stuff like that.

Audrey

Ling Tong asked:


Having a beautiful lawn during the spring summer and fall shouldn’t have to cost you money. By taking advantage of the lawn care tips you find in books and magazines, online and by asking questions of experts at your local lawn and garden store, you can easily take care of many of these jobs on your own. Once you are aware of some basic factors associated with lawn care, you can become a professional in your own right and your neighbors will start asking you for advice. The only requirement is that you spend some time researching how to take care of your lawn during every season of the year and devote some time to the tasks.

 

Mowing is one of the basic essentials of having a great looking lawn. However, there is a trick to this. In the spring, when you mow for the first time, mow the grass at the lowest level on the mower. This will remove all the dead grass and allow the roots to start producing new shoots. Make sure you rake up the lawn even if there are not many clippings because raking helps to revitalize the grass and the soil. Then when you mow the grass again, you should move the blades up a level. The lawn needs to be mowed on a regular basis. During how weather in summer, you can even have the blades higher so that you don’t mow too close to the ground and cause the grass to burn and turn brown. When you mow the lawn for the final time in the fall, place the blades at the lowest level again.

 

Watering plays a major part in lawn care. Without water the grass will not grow and will die causing brown patches to appear in the lawn. You have to know the type of grass you have and the type of soil so that you give it the appropriate amounts of water. You should never water the lawn after a rainfall because this could saturate the soil and cause the grass to die. When there is very little rainfall, the best time to water the lawn is in the early morning or just at sunset. This is because there is less chance of the water evaporating before it gets a chance to soak into the soil.

 

Fertilizing the soil is also important. For this you do need to know what type of soil you have. If you are not sure, you can bring in some of the soil to a garden center and the experts there will be able to provide you with the right fertilizer for your needs. You can also decide whether you want to use organic or chemical fertilizers, but whichever one you choose, you do have to follow the directions on the packaging. Using too much fertilizer can be harmful to the grass.

 

One thing that people do not realize is that the soil and the roots of the grass need air in order to grow, especially if the soil is compacted. To check to see if this is so, pour a small amount of water on the soil and wait a few minutes to see if it starts to soak down through. If it doesn’t this means you will have to aerate the lawn. What this means is to perform a simple procedure or poking small holes in the lawn a t regular intervals so that the oxygen can reach the roots and the water can get to them. The holes are small and will not be noticeable in the lawn.



Erin

Martin Haworth asked:


Having the perfect lawn involves many things. And with those many things to do in taking care of your lawn, would it not be best if there is somewhere a set of guides to help you along? Well look no more, because here are some lawn tips that could be useful to you.

Important Lawn Care Considerations

If you want a healthy and great looking lawn, then lawn care is important. The lawn care tactics you use are as much a part of lawn maintenance as the actual maintenance steps themselves.

So, first up, When you choose the grass for your lawn, make sure it is the right type. The factors that could affect your choice of grass include your location (because you may be living in a dry or wet part of the country).

Your choice of grass can also be affected by that grasses’ availability at a particular season and certain planting methods. Your lawn and garden will not be as perfect as you wish it to be if right from the start you didn’t prepare adequately.

Guide to Lawn Maintenance

Lawn management requires dedication on your part and good application of the skills you will need, which are not that hard to understand and learn.

One important lawn care necessity is lawn mowing. You cannot just let the grass in your lawn overgrow, can you? When you mow, use a sharp mower so that you would get the job done easily and fast. A sharp lawn mower is also best to avoid young grass seedlings from being uprooted.

Another important lawn care practice is regualr and adequate lawn watering. Naturally, if you do not water the grass in your lawn, it will dry up and eventually die. Know the requirements of the grass type you have planted and water accordingly.

You may need to water your lawn more during the hot seasons and be careful with timing too.

Another important thing to remember when you take care of your lawn is lawn fertilizing and of course you must know the right fertilizers for your grass.

That is why choosing your grass in the first place was important. So, do some research down at your local specialists and decide what you need to do and in what season.

You might also want to take into account insect control and relevant treatment too.

Aside from that, your lawn may need some aerating from time to time. The thatch – mowed bits and pieces of grass can pack the soil of your lawn as well as block the air from entering.

So you might consider that with your lawn management, using a hollow tine fork or other attachments that you might be able to use on your mower.

A lawn scarifier can be found in your garden center, as an attachment or a free-standing piece of kit, often inexpensive and very practical and effective.

Lawn weeding is also important. Though your lawn is mainly grass, you do not want other types of grass to be mixed in there. Also use the proper and best lawn equipment you can find to ensure a good job.

In fact, a good idea here is to meander around your lawn, just after you have cut it, with a small knife and cut out the biggest weeds. As you do this frequently the weeds weaken and die off. It’s a good investment of time for those bigger weeds.

Lawn care is important, for that beautiful expanse of green you have dreamt about, so make sure to do your best with it.



Scott