Mar 10, 2023 | Lawn Care
The New Year does not automatically mean a clean slate for your lawn. If your lawn has been neglected in the past or the springtime is particularly hot and humid, then your lawn could suffer from one of the several springtime lawn diseases.
Most diseases are noticeable to homeowners, with your lawn lacking that lush factor or discoloration. It’s important to treat your lawn immediately to prevent any further infection in other areas. Here is a list of common lawn diseases you could see this spring:
- Dollar Spot: Small sunken, circular patches of either brown or straw-colored grass. This disease usually occurs when there is a lack of nitrogen in the soil. Types of turf that can be impacted by this disease are zoysiagrass and bermudagrass hybrids.
- Brown Patch: Ranging from 5 inches up to 25 feet in diameter, brown patches are rings or circular patches of discolored turf. The types of turf most likely to be affected by this are zoysiagrass, Augustine grass, and bermudagrass.
What could be causing these issues with your lawn? Let’s talk about the several reasons why you might be seeing these problems.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Nitrogen and iron are the most common deficiencies that cause yellow spots on your lawn. Nitrogen deficiencies can cause your lawn to have stunted growth. A sign that you have a nitrogen-deficient lawn is if you’re noticing large collections of clover.
- Excessive Moisture: Too little or too much water can wreak havoc on your lawn. If you excessively water your lawn, then it can lead to fungal growth, which is what typically causes the above lawn diseases. Keep an eye on the weather and if rain is coming and make sure your sprinkler system is turned off to prevent overwatering.
- Clean Up After Mowing: Be sure to clean up any lawn clippings after you mow to ensure your turf can breathe and to prevent the spread of any lawn disease to other parts of your yard.
The best treatment for lawn diseases is prevention. Give your local pest control company a call today to receive a free lawn care inspection!
Mar 10, 2023 | Florida Lawn Care
South Florida Lawn Care: Keeping Your Lawn Healthy Year-Round
Now is the best time to start preparing your lawn to be the greenest on the block! During the spring and summer months, Florida lawns can experience high traffic, excessive rain, hot temperatures, and more. Putting a lawn care plan together beforehand can help minimize the effects these factors have on your grass. Check out our top lawn care tips for South Florida residents to utilize to maintain a healthy turf year-round.
Water Your Lawn Regularly
In our hot and humid climate, watering your lawn regularly is essential. Look to water your grass at least once a week, avoiding shallow watering as it can promote the growth of shallow roots. Consider watering your yard early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid evaporation during the hottest parts of the day.
Fertilize Your Lawn
Regular fertilization will help your lawn grow lush and healthy. The type of turf you have will determine the appropriate fertilizer to utilize. Whichever fertilizer you choose, look to apply it in the early spring and fall when your grass is actively growing. It’s recommended to consult with your lawn care professional on a fertilizer schedule and the type of fertilizer to use for a healthy lawn.
Mow Your Lawn Properly
Not only does mowing your lawn keep it tidy, but it’s also a health benefit to your grass. When you mow your lawn, set your mower at a high setting, ensuring that you don’t cut off more than a third of the grass blade. Utilizing this setting helps to promote deep roots and reduces the chance of damage and disease. Always keep your mower blades sharp for a clean cut. As for a mowing schedule, it’s best to base it on when you fertilize, current weather patterns, and the grass type, but you should always look to mow year-round.
Aerate Your Lawn
The aeration of your lawn will help relieve soil compaction, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the grassroots. Yearly aerating will help distribute nutrients from thatch, ensuring a healthy turf. Look to aerate in the spring or fall when the grass is actively growing.
Address Pests and Diseases
There are several insects and diseases that will quickly damage your lawn if not addressed promptly. Always look for signs of damage, including yellowing or browning of the grass. If you notice these spots, act as soon as possible with appropriate treatment. Likewise, lawn pests can be extremely damaging, ruining your grass’s health and overall look. Common lawn pests include ants, chinch bugs, mole crickets, sod webworms, and more! If you notice these pests are taking over your yard, consider reaching out to your lawn care professional.
While these steps will help you keep a healthy lawn, sometimes it’s best to contact your local lawn care company for help. These lawn professionals will provide you with a green lawn care analysis and a comprehensive treatment plan, customized to fit your lawn care needs.
Dec 7, 2022 | Lawn Care
With the summer heat now behind us, it’s crunch time to get your lawn ready for the winter season! The change in the season is the best time of year to begin winter lawn care with the correct preparation methods to ensure a healthy lawn for spring!
Fortunately, the winters in Georgia are mild, with the occasional winter storm passing by. However, winter can still have an effect on our Georgia turfs, such as Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, and more. These turfs will need some extra care during the winter months.
Winter usually brings our lawn into a dormant state or hibernation. Think of this time as your lawn “shutting down” to conserve energy, water, and nutrients. Therefore, our lawns turn brown during the cooler months. With your lawn being more vulnerable during the winter months, it’s best to follow these tips to ensure its health in spring:
- Avoid walking on your lawn as much as possible. Our lawns aren’t as durable as they can be in the summer months, so be sure to take extra precautions when walking on your lawn, especially in the morning when there’s a layer of frost. Instead, wait until it melts later in the day to let your kids or pets outside play.
- Don’t overwater it. While your lawn still needs water in the winter, it won’t be able to absorb nearly as much as it does during the summer months. Adjust your sprinkler system or watering schedule to only water once a week.
- Keep lawn clear of leaves, sticks, or other debris. Keeping these items off your turf will not only make it look more put together, but it will also protect your lawn from suffocating damage and potential lawn diseases and give it a layer of pest control, as well.
If you need help getting a jump on your winter lawn care, contact a local lawn care company that can give you a free lawn analysis and help set you up for a lush, healthy lawn come spring.
Sep 7, 2022 | Lawn Care
The end of summer is nearing, but that doesn’t mean the care of your lawn should end with it. The cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall make this the best time of year to prepare your lawn for spring. So don’t stow away your lawnmowers just yet; check out these tips for fall lawn care.
Continue As Normal
Until the first hard frost appears, grass will keep growing. Continue to water and mow your lawn as usual until cooler weather begins.
Fertilize and Control Weeds
Fertilizer will provide enough nutrients for the roots to grow deeper and allow them to retain these nutrients until spring. The best time to begin is in early September, repeating again 6-8 weeks later. Another great tip for your Fescue lawn is that fall is the best time to aerate and overseed. If you have Bermuda or Zoysia, refrain from doing this in the fall, as spring is the best time of year for that.
Your grass thrives in the fall, but so do weeds! Be sure to begin controlling weeds in September or October. Treating weeds with a pre-emergent in the fall season will allow them to fully absorb and they shouldn’t return in the springtime.
Keep Leaves Raked
The fall-time chore that no one really enjoys doing is raking leaves. It’s a vital part of keeping your lawn healthy and lush. You should begin removing leaves as they begin to fall; if you wait too long, the piled-up leaves will be matted together from rain and dew and will be more difficult to remove. This can also suffocate your lawn and cause fungus to grow, which can become detrimental over time.
Taking the time to care for your lawn before major season changes is the best way to keep it healthy. If the care of your lawn seems overwhelming to you, a local lawn care company can give you a free lawn care analysis. They can provide you with the best comprehensive treatment plan customized for your lawn.
May 3, 2022 | Lawn Care
The weather in Georgia is starting to warm up, which means more time will be spent outdoors enjoying your lawn. The type of lawn maintenance you need depends on the type of grass you have and what you want your lawn to look like. Here’s our top three grass types for Georgia and the best plan for maintaining each.
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass originated in Asia was introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800s. This type of turf is an excellent choice for Georgia’s climate because although it thrives in warm, sunny weather, it can also tolerate the occasional cold spell, light shade, and droughts. Due to it being a warm-season species, it does perform best when given at least eight hours of sunshine. Thanks to its deep root system, Zoysia needs less water than other grass types.
This type of turf grows very densely and feels soft under your feet. The only downfall is that it can be invasive, overgrowing in lower beds or the neighbor’s lawn if it is not maintained correctly.
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass has been in the U.S. for centuries and is a popular choice for most southern states. This warm-season grass thrives in hot weather and will perform poorly in shaded areas. This turf will quickly grow, making it difficult to control near flower beds and borders of your yard. However, it can tolerate low rainfall and can recover from damage quickly.
Since this grass grows quickly, it will need to be mowed more often during peak growth. Many homeowners love Bermuda grass as it is beautiful and resilient with the summer climate in the south.
St. Augustine Grass
This turf species has a distinct, coarse texture and a dark green color. It is tolerant of shade, though it does grow best in the sun. St. Augustine grass does not do well during dry or cold periods and will need extra watering during the hotter months of the year. It is best for low trafficked lawns since the blades are easily damaged and compacted. Although recommended for the lower half of Georgia, many homeowners in the Atlanta area have this type of grass in their lawn. St. Augustine grass can quickly grow, needing to be mowed often, even with the recommended 3-4 inches of height.
Choosing turf for your lawn may depend on how much maintenance you wish to dedicate to it. To learn more about different types of turf and maintaining each, reach out to your local lawn care company.
