It’s that time of year when we get frequent inquiries as to lawn care and repair after the winter months. To make things a little easier, here are some other things you can do to make sure everything is going to be “Picture Perfect”:
Early Spring seeding or later in August/September seeding: 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 the better times to get your grass back into shape especially with the winter we had this year. 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 also 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. Also check if you need 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.
There is a short window in the Spring to get your new grass going and the first few cuts in before either the summer heat sets in or if late summer over seeding 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 falling leaves off the new lawns so it does not get smothered as well. It’s often compared to taking care of a baby, so we send this to our clients as a guide to watering grass seed and establishing a new lawn: Watering Grass Seed-A Caution and a Guide
Due to continued high demand this year for our services, we are currently only estimating and scheduling new lawns and repairing lawns if it’s part of a larger project such as a front landscaping renovation or backyard transformation so give us a call today to speak with a consultant: 860-228-3915
Lawn Care 101 It might be a bit of a sorry sight after the past 6 months, 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 overseed. If you are growing new grass by seed wait until 5 weeks before you start weed and grub control and do your first mowing 🙂Depending on your property location-If you would like to find out more about lawn fertilization or just have lawn questions or need some advice, contact our friends over at Palatine Lawn Care, Salem Safe Lawn, or The Green Scene
If you are like many of our clients that have surrounding oak trees or pine trees on the borders of your property and find that growing grass is an uphill battle every year due to the tree itself and its needles and/or acorns, you may find these articles helpful:
Why grass doesn’t grow under pine trees
Planting Under an Oak Tree: What Can You Plant Under Oak Trees
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 a quote to do it for you to keep your landscape healthy and shape/size in check.
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 Homeowners
Mulching
Mulching is one of the most important ways to protect and maintain healthy landscaped plants, shrubs and flowers. Some of the uses for our Premium Dark Brown Shredded Bark Mulch are:
- it prevents weeds from coming through.
- organic mulches break down and add to the nutrient base of the soil making the soil richer.
- helps to hold water and moisture in your plants and gardens, therefore you don’t have to water as much.
- helps the roots maintain an even temperature.
- protects your soil from erosion.
- adds to the aesthetic appeal of your landscape by making it look more finished.
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!