Here are some tips for things you can do to make sure your lawn and landscape stays “Picture Perfect” this year and here’s an Interesting Article: How Your Landscape Helps You Manage Fear and Anxiety
Late April/May and Early June or later in August/September: De-thatching, Aerating, adding Soil and Nutrients, Over-seeding and Weed Control
Unless you have an irrigation system to water new grass seed in, Spring and Late Summer are usually the better times to get your grass back into shape especially this spring with some weekly rain and cool weather. The days are warm but the nights are cooler which makes watering much easier. Getting rid of weeds and adding back soil and nutrients to your lawn is important to establishing a good base for new grass seed. If the ground is compacted and full of dead turf this also needs to be addressed before attempting to repair your lawn. Perfect time to aerate and de-thatch before overseeding and fertilizing. The folks over at SCOTTS offer some great advice on the above areas when it comes to green lawns. Click HERE to go to their site.
Still a few weeks to take advantage of the still cool and fairly rainy weather this spring to give your lawn some much needed TLC after last summer’s drought. But most important is to protect that baby grass going into the summer heat so after about 5 weeks we highly recommend applying a fertilizer with weed control or the summer weeds will take over your lawn and you will lose your spring investment. It’s like going to the doctor and getting a consult but you did not do the yearly maintenance and vitamins to keep up your health until next annual appointment and you’ll have to start all over again which is a total waste of money and time.
Then remember at the end of summer, plan on doing some over-seeding to thicken up the areas that may not have come in as well and to get rid of any weeds. By protecting the new grass and root system with fertilizer going into the fall and applying an application of winter protection in Oct/Nov your lawn will thank you in the spring with green growth.
We are still estimating and scheduling new lawns and repairing lawns that have been damaged so give us a call today to setup a free estimate: 860-228-3915
Reminder: In the spring there is a short window to get your new grass going and the first few cuts in before either the summer heat sets in or in late September the leaves start to fall so plan now. Remember it takes a few weeks to get the grass seeds to sprout, then a few more weeks before your first mowing. After 5 weeks you can then apply fertilizer with weed and grub control so that all your hard work does not disappear overnight. Also remember to keep the Fall leaves and any acorns, hickory nuts, pine needles or other debris off the new lawns so it does not get smothered after all your hard work!
Lawn Care 101 It might be a bit of a sorry sight after the past 6 months, especially after last summer’s severe drought conditions but with a bit of work, you can bring it back to life. If you can see a fair amount of thatch (the dead, straw-like stuff) you will need to rake it out before you attempt any other lawn care projects.
The reason? Anything you add, such as new seed or fertilizer will simply sit on the thatch, rather than getting down into the soil, unless it is removed.
Once you have de-thatched your lawn, you can add your fertilizer application. This helps the lawn to green up and recover from winter or summer stress. Weed control and crabgrass preventative should also be applied during this step if you are not attempting to grow new grass or over seed. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are growing new grass by seed in some areas you have to wait until at least 5 weeks before you start weed and grub control or you will kill your grass seed before it starts. 🙁
I took these photos week of 4/20 when I happened to catch our lawn technician servicing our office which does not have irrigation but has survived drought and winter stress the last 18 years due to a solid and healthy root system that we have invested in with seasonal lawn treatments.
Trust the professionals. If you would like to find out more about lawn fertilization or just have lawn questions or need some advise, contact our friends over at The Green Scene.
April/May Update: Informative website regarding year round care recommendations for the perfect lawn for you the homeowner. Check it out here.
Plant and transplant April and May are good times to plant those new roses, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, evergreens and most deciduous plant but so are the cooler months of late August into September. If you’re still not sure what to plant, you can always contact us. We are able to design and help you plan your landscaping project. As far as transplanting existing plants from one spot to another, time is running out, so the sooner the better. Many plants are already starting their spring growth and you want them to get used to their new spot before the heat starts coming in.
Pruning If you need to prune trees and shrubs, the best time to do this is before growth starts in the spring. The exceptions to that rule are spring-flowering shrubs. For those, you need to wait until after they finish flowering (mid-season May-July). Spring would be a good time to prune roses and ornamental grasses if they look like they need a trim. We are happy to assist you on any particular pruning questions you may have or give you an estimate to keep your landscape healthy and shape/size in check. Here are some pruning tips from the experts at LOWE’s click here.
Weeding Probably everyone’s least-favorite garden activity, possibly because it feels destructive rather than beneficial, and it can be backbreaking work. Did you know we can apply a premium pre-emergent application to your planting beds that will save you lots of weeding and money! CLICK HERE for more weed control tips we recommend homeowners use. If you are busy or have an extensive landscape, the licensed professionals over at The Green Scene can provide this service as well as lawn, shrub and tree fertilization and tick control spraying if this is a concern. Protect the landscape that you have invested in since weeds are a constant concern in CT. due to all the trees and woods we have around us.
Specializing in Lower Maintenance Landscapes for Today’s Busy Home Owners
Mulching is one of the most important ways to protect and maintain healthy landscaped plants, shrubs and flowers adding to the aesthetic appeal of your landscape by making it look more appealing. Some of the uses for our Premium Dark Brown Shredded Pine/Hemlock Bark Mulch are: 1. it helps prevents weeds and also holds water and moisture in your plants and gardens, therefore you don’t have to water as much 2. organic mulches (not wood or bark chips) will break down and add to the nutrient base of the soil making the soil richer 3.helps the roots maintain an even temperature and protects your soil from erosion
Not all mulches are created equal. Also check out the video link below why we recommend using shredded bark mulch for over 30 years:)
Adding color to your landscape Now is a great time to plant, so take a look around your landscape and decide if you can brighten the place up with a few new “faces.” We can help you with updating your landscape and putting together a free quote once we determine the amount of sunlight affecting that part of your landscape and what type of shrub or tree would give you the “Best Bang for Your Buck”. Flowers are great for short term but by selecting specimens that have interesting color or texture in their foliage also you will have a more lasting visual effect in your landscape. Click on the photo gallery at the top of our website to see some other plants that we like to incorporate in our lower maintenance designs. Email us today for a free estimate!
Some helpful video links for additional information:
1. Smart Spring Yard Cleanup by This Old House
2. Spring Lawn Care Guide by Danny Lipford from Today’s Homeowner
3. Why We Choose to Use Shredded Pine Bark Mulch– You Tube Video
4. Weed Control for Mulch Beds- Video on PREEN Pre-Emergent
5. Lawn Thatch, Aerating and Reseeding How To You Tube Video
6. Weed control and fertilization for lawns also plant bed weed control and tick spraying. Ask for Ralph and tell them Kim sent you-The Green Scene experts