Questions and Answers
Questions on Lawncare
How long does it take to get my lawn healthy?
It normally takes at least one full season . Depending on how thin and how many weeds and crabgrass, it may roll into a second year. The goal is to target the fertilizer to the root system so it will thicken up, which results in thick healthy grass. You will see results after 1-2 treatments.
Why is granular fertilizer better than liquid fertilizer?
Liquid fertilizer is a quick release fertilizer that gets mostly absorbed into the grass blade and causes surge growth. It does not help thicken the root system very effectively. It is a fraction of the cost to buy and reflects in the results. The only good thing about liquid fertilizer is profit for the company using it.
Is all granular fertilizer the same?
No, even with granular fertilizer you can buy less expensive blends. The factors that go into the quality and price of fertilizer is: balanced fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can buy it without one or more of these nutrients. Using slow release fertilizer helps continued root feeding to thicken roots better than using regular granular fertilizer that is not slow release.
Finally iron in the fertilizer causes a richer, darker green lawn. Each one of these options add to the cost of the fertilizer, but this is how you get the best looking lawn in the neighborhood.
Can you prevent weeds from coming up?
The best control to prevent weeds is a thick healthy lawn which takes a little time. Although we can use Crabgrass Control to prevent weedy grasses, there isn’r a weed control that prevents weeds from growing. So the first year or two after we kill the initial weeds, more weeds will continue to come back (but will get continuous treatment) until the lawn gets thick. There are also different weeds that come up different times of the year. For example, spring weeds, like dandelions, and summer annual weeds, like nutsedge, all need dealt with differently and at different times of the year.
Why can I not mow the lawn low?
Mowing low causes the lawn to stress, stop growing at a normal rate, and leads to an invasion of weeds. It also burns the lawn up (causing brown dormant grass) because it allows the sun to hit the soil and root system of the grass leaving it exposed to the sun. Similar to, if you were to shave your head and go into the hot sun you would get a sunburn on your head. Tall grass shades the soil and root system. If your lawn is growing then it is improving. If it is dormant then it is declining. Also the higher you mow the deeper the roots grow to support it which results in a thicker, healthier lawn. Usually 3” to 3 ½” is the more than 1/3 of the grass blade and causes yellowing and browning.
When should I seed?
September is the best month of the year to seed. The ground temp drops, we get fall rain and dew in the mornings to help the seed germinate and grow. It also allows the seed plenty of time to fill in and establish before going into a summer drought. Seeding in the spring is not ideal because the crabgrass control will prevent all seed from germinating and killing your grass seed. If the crabgrass control is not applied then the bad grass will fill and choke out the good grass that you planted. Only in extreme cases is seeding in the spring recommended.
Why should I do a fall aeration?
Core aeration helps thicken your lawn by releasing the pressure of the compacted clay soil and allows the root system an easy way to thicken up. It reduces thatch and allows the water, air, and fertilizer to make it directly to the root system when the root system is the most active. You get 80% of your root growth in fall. Spring aerations are not as effective as fall aerations.
Should I bag my grass clippings?
No. Grass clippings are 95% moisture and 5% nutrients. They are beneficial to leave on the lawn.
Do they add to my thatch layer? No. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn are not part of the thatch layer at all. Thatch is living grass roots and crowns that are growing above ground instead of growing underground and are bad for the lawn in many ways, and will need multiple aerations to correct. If you have any questions please call or email.
