TREE & LAWN CARE BLOG
What To Do In Spring For The Perfect Lawn
What to do in Spring for a perfect lawn.
Spring is finally here! Help prepare your lawn for a year of healthy growth with the care it needs to help it thrive. With these steps, you will prepare your lawn to defeat the weeds, diseases and drought.
1.Rake
You’ll want to remove lingering fall leaves and grass blades that did not survive winter. Left alone, these dead blades add to your lawn's thatch layer.
2. Overseed
Fill bare or thin spots in the lawn by overseeding. Late spring is the best time to overseed warm-season grass. Fall is the ideal time for cool-season grass.
3. Aerate
Aeration is the solution for compacted soil in high traffic areas and is absolutely vital to the success of your lawn. How often you should aerate your lawn depends on soil type. A lawn care technician would be able to assess the correct timing for your particular lawn type. Late spring to early summer is the right time to aerate warm-season grasses. Fall is the best time for cool-season types.
4. Dethatch
Spring is the perfect time to dethatch turf. Aim for early spring for cool-season grasses and late spring to early summer for warm-season grasses. Learn more about dethatching by calling our office here.
5. Weed
If Crabgrass has taken over your lawn, apply pre-emergent herbicides ASAP to keep seeds that dropped last summer from germinating. Timing is critical for this application. You can call our office by clicking here to learn about application timing and pre-emergent application tips.
Use post-emergent broadleaf herbicides for perennial and winter annual weeds in warm-season lawns. Treat or dig perennial weeds as they start appearing in cool-season lawns or try 5 In 1 Weed & Feed. It kills lawn weeds like Dandelion and Clover, pulls kills Crabgrass. Learn more about post-emergent herbicides.
6. Fertilize
Fertilizer should be applied roughly three weeks after your grass begins to green up. If you fertilize too early, you will risk feeding the weeds as well as creating a fertilizer run off due to all the spring rain showers.
7. Water
Overwatering your lawn can do more damage than good. Let your lawn start to green up naturally and irrigate only if rains are scarce and grass shows signs of real dehydration. We usually get enough spring rain showers in Georgia to quench its thirst.
8. Mow
Be sure to cut at the proper height for your type of grass. You will want to avoid mowing too low because this allows sunlight to reach soil, encouraging weed seeds to germinate.
If you are interested in having a lawn care technician from our team come out and provide a customized lawn care plan to achieve your specific grass goals, click the link below to be directed to one of our client experience coordinators who can help you!
Is My Sprinkler System Damaging My Trees?
Irrigation systems are great for low maintenance landscaping. Essentially you just set it , forget it, and watch everything bloom. However, if these irrigation systems are not properly placed, they can cause a problem for your trees and plants.
In the strong Georgia heat, we rarely think of overwatering posing any threats to our gardens. In the heat of the summer especially, it is very important to provide a substantial amount of water to keep your trees, plants and grass thriving.
When you decide to have your sprinkler system installed its important to make sure the location is ideal. Too much water can do just as much harm as too little. Overwatering with trees can be a dangerous situation as excessive moisture provides a perfect breeding ground for pathogens and fungus to develop, essentially leading to the weakening of your trees. If you notice any fungus or mushrooms growing at the base or the trunks of your trees, call a certified Arborist as soon as possible to have your trees properly assessed for decline.
Some signs your plants/trees are getting too much water are:
root rot
bark falling off the trunk
trunk damage
saturated soils
fungus (mushrooms, etc.)
Some signs your plants/trees aren’t getting enough water are:
wilted or curling leaves
smaller leaves than normal
leaf drop
yellowing or burning of the leaves
After installation, walk around to different spots checking the soil after a run to ensure it is getting proper moisture. If the soil is heavily saturated you know your trees and plants are being overwatered and visa versa.
If you would like an ISA Certified Arborist to come assess the health of your trees, click the link below to be connected!
Call An ISA Certified Arborist Now!
Benefits of Deep Root Fertilization
Older, matured trees are often overlooked as “healthy” and not in need of any fertilization. Just because your trees are full grown doesn’t mean they wont benefit from a fertilization boost.
Why do my trees need fertilization?
Most trees that are planted in urban areas can be subject to a number of obstacles such as:
soil compaction
competing for nutrients
air pollution
poor soil quality
All of these factors can contribute to the overall decline of your trees over time. Deep root fertilization adds natural soil nutrients around the roots of your trees while providing a means for aeration of the soil at the same time. Performing a deep root fertilization on your trees will give your trees the extra push they need to overcome certain environmental setbacks where they might otherwise fall short.
What are the top benefits of deep root fertilization?
Fertilizing your trees provides a large number of benefits such as:
prevents chlorosis (yellowing of leaves)
provides substantial protection against pests and diseases
naturally aerates the soil for optimal oxygen to your trees roots
helps aid in the prevention of damage during winter such as frost
stimulates fast growth of the canopy
promotes the growth of healthier foliage
All of these benefits will help your tree thrive in some of the less favorable conditions of urban settings. However, it is important to have a certified arborist assess your trees to determine what mixture will work best for your goals. Unfortunately, there isn’t a “one size fits all” fertilizer that will provide ideal results and could potentially harm your trees if not performed properly.
If you would like more information on deep root fertilization of your trees, feel free to contact us using the link below!
Contact An Arborist Now!
Weed Prevention Tips for Spring
There’s nothing like a lawn with no trace of weeds in sight. For most, weed prevention can be a daunting task but with the right information and products, you can easily achieve all of your lawn care goals.
The key to having a yard full of lush, weed free, green grass is to start with a pre-emergent.
What is a pre-emergent?
Pre-emergent is a herbicide that when applied correctly and at the right time can prevent *most* weeds from emerging in the spring and summer months. Pre-emergent spray starts with the root of the problem, the actual seed of the weeds BEFORE they form. However, they don’t kill the weed seeds, instead, they completely stop the growth process from happening all-together and before they are even germinated.
When should I spray pre-emergent in Georgia?
For this process to be effective, the herbicide must be applied to the soil at the right time and temperature, which is between 50-55 degrees. In Georgia this date ranges from beginning of January to March 20th. Information regarding the temperature of your soil can be found online from numerous resources.
Will pre-emergent herbicides damage my grass?
If you have just recently installed a new pallet of sod, its best to wait until this grass has a chance to settle in before tackling the weed problems that might arise. It is important to know which pre-emergent reacts with the specific type of grass you have in order to avoid any mishaps. For example, methylated seed oil should never be used on Bermuda grass. Be sure to consult with your local lawn care technician in regards to which pre-emergent is most highly recommended for your grass and soil type.
Should I use spray or granulated pre-emergent?
This question solely relies on preference. Either or will do the job as long as they are mixed and applied evenly and thoroughly to the grass. Pre-emergents are essentially strong barriers to prevent weeds from popping through. This is why it is important to make sure your application is very evenly distributed.
Still have questions? Contact us today for help with your lawn care problems using the link below!