A Step-By-Step Lawn Care Guide

A Step-By-Step Lawn Care Guide

Apr 19, 2019 | Lawn Care

Spring can be a busy time for lawn care. The weather is highly unpredictable, plants are just emerging after the winter cold and can be tender and delicate, and the soil is thawing from the winter freeze. Taking the appropriate steps early in the season can help ensure a lush, green lawn throughout the rest of the year. Check out this step-by-step lawn care guide to help get your lawn ready this spring.

1. Get Rid of Weeds

A few weeds in your lawn are inevitable. These can be pulled by hand or with a handheld weeder or hoe. Make sure to pull them out completely, roots and all. If you have an abundance of weeds, use an herbicide directly on the offenders or apply a weed and feed product to the entire lawn. If dandelions are a problem, they can be sprayed with diluted vinegar. Crabgrass can be treated by raising the mower blades higher and watering less frequently.

2. Dethatch

Thatch is the matted accumulation of organic debris that collects between grass blades and roots. Thatch can cause dead patches in your lawn and open spaces for weeds to proliferate. Inspect your lawn for signs of thatch. Thatch can be removed with a thatching rake or a power dethatcher. Recovery from dethatching takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

3. Aerate

Inspect your lawn to see if aeration is needed. Dig a 1 square foot section of your lawn and examine the roots. If the roots don’t extend deeper than 2 inches, your lawn needs to be aerated. Make sure to water the lawn for 1 to 2 days before you aerate. Use a core aerator over the lawn once. After aeration is done, apply compost or sand over the entire lawn.

4. Reseed and Overseed

Before applying any seed, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to make sure what seed works best for your lawn. In early spring or fall, overseed with a cool season grass (rye, fescue, Kentucky bluegrass) and overseed with a warm season grass (Bermuda or Zoysia) early in the summer. To get an even application apply the seed with a broadcast seeder. Water the seed to help it establish.

5. Mow

A healthy lawn is denser, making it better able to resist weeds. When mowing, only remove about 1/3″ off the top of the grass. Set your mower deck height so that the grass is about 2-1/2″ to 3″ tall. Taller grass helps shade out weed seeds and prevents them from germinating. Try alternating your mowing pattern by mowing at a 45 to 90 degree angle from your last mow. This helps prevent soil impaction and helps grass grow upright. Also make sure to keep your mower blades sharp.

6. Water and Fertilize

Watering provides adequate moisture to grass, especially during times of heat or drought. If possible, try to water early in the morning when the air is cooler so there is less evaporation. For warm season grasses, spring is the ideal time to apply fertilizer when the lawn is actively growing (approximately 6 weeks after the last frost). Cool season grasses benefit from fall fertilization.

7. Mulch and Clean

Spring is the best time to clean up any leaves, twigs, and other debris left over from winter. Edge your beds, trim back dried branches on shrubs, and replace the mulch.

8. Call a Pro

You always have the option of calling a professional lawn care service to help with your lawn maintenance throughout the year. Proper analysis, treatment, and timing are critical in achieving a green, healthy lawn. Lawn care professionals are experts in all aspects of lawn care and use technologically advanced products for your lawn. Click here to request a free lawn care analysis and get started with your professional lawn service today.

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How to Get Rid of Yellow Spots in Your Lawn

Nov 1, 2012 | Lawn Care

We all want a blemish free lawn.  One of the biggest complaints that we often hear from potential lawn care customers is that they have yellow spots in their grass.  These spots can be little patches here and there or large areas of grass.  There can be a few different reasons why your green grass is spotted with yellow patches.

damaged lawn

Yellow Spots in Grass

  • Drought – If your grass isn’t getting enough water due to drought or under watering, this can cause grass to turn from a healthy green to a dull yellow.  If this is the case, water your grass in the early morning one to two times a week.
  • Nutrient Deficiency – Lawns are living organisms just like humans and animals.  Humans, animals, and lawns need their nutrients to be healthy.  If you haven’t fertilized your lawn in a while, this could be the reason for the yellow, dead spots.
  • Chemical Burn – Fertilizer, pesticide, or other chemicals applied incorrectly can burn your lawn.  Be sure to fully read and follow directions when applying chemicals to your lawn.  Water and patience is the best remedy for a chemically burnt lawn.
  • Animal Damage – Urine damage can be from family pets, rabbits, or other animals that may make their way into your lawn.  Again, the best solution for urine damage by animals is to water in the urine before it can set in.
  • Lawn Disease – If none of the above seem likely reasons for why your lawn has yellow spots, lawn disease, or fungus, may be the cause.  The best way to know for sure is to call your professional lawn care company.

If yellow spots have gotten the best of your lawn, call Northwest Lawn Care.  Our representatives will do a FREE lawn analysis to determine the cause of your issues.  They will then create a customized plan for your lawn to return it to its green, healthy state.

Lawn Care Tips for Fall

Oct 1, 2012 | Lawn Care

The next few weeks should be spent fertilizing, controlling weeds, preparing new lawn, and repairing poor quality lawn.  Here a few simple things to do for your lawn in the fall months:

Give Soil TLC. One of the most important things you can do for your lawn is to properly prepare the soil.  Test the pH levels in your soil.  If results indicate a problem, apply sulfur or lime.  Till the soil then apply your fertilizer.

Fertilize. Depending on the type of grass you have will determine how often and what type of fertilizer you should use.  Regardless of the type of grass, fall is the best time to fertilize.

Control Weeds.  September and October are the best months to control weeds like dandelions and clovers.

Remove Thatch.  Use this time to dig up any pieces of thatch (dead grass roots and stems that grow between soil and green grass).

Seed.  New seed should be planted now to replace poor quality lawn or to grow new lawn.  The grass will grow better in the cool temperatures of the fall.

For some, lawn care may not be something that you feel comfortable doing yourself.  If you need assistance, call a professional lawn care company.  Northwest Lawn Care can help you diagnose your lawn issues and create a customized plan of action to get your lawn green and healthy for spring time.

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