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TIPS
Watering:
A properly watered lawn makes
it more difficult for weeds to grow in.
Healthy lawns, need watering!
Your lawn requires 1½ to 2 inches of water per week. During hot, dry periods,
drought stress will most assuredly occur causing many potential problems and
more will be required. You can identify this by seeing if you can leave
"footprints" after walking across it. If this occurs, WATER
IMMEDIATELY! Deep watering one time per week is far more advantageous than short
frequent waterings. You will promote a deeper root structure that makes your
lawn more tolerant to insects and disease.
Mowing:
To
maintain a thick and healthy lawn, it is essential to mow properly. As a general
rule, you should never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade during any one
cutting. This places your turf in unnecessary stress. Be certain to have a sharp
mover blade because this will stop "tearing" the leaf blade, making it
more susceptible to disease. Your lawn should be cut at a height of 2 ½ to 3
inches. At this height your lawn has a greater surface area to help produce it's
own food (photosynthesis) and it helps naturally shade itself from the sun.
Aeration:
Healthy
turf has healthy roots. However, good root growth cannot be achieved in
compacted soil. Core aeration extracts small cores of soil and thatch from your
lawn. This will allow air, water and nutrients to pass freely into the root zone
to promote deeper, stronger roots and thicker, healthier lawn. The extracted
cores are left on the surface to break down naturally. Normal rainfall,
watering, and mowing help reduce the cores to beneficial top dressing which aids
in thatch decomposition.
- Breaks through thatch and eliminates layering.
- Stimulates the breakdown of thatch.
- Helps relieve soil compaction.
- Improves air exchange with roots.
- Has vertical mowing action which stimulates new
growth.
- Reduces puddling and allows more efficient use of
water.
- Improves fertilizer uptake and drought stress
tolerance.
- Improves turf resiliency and cushioning.
What to expect
Upon completion of this service you will see hundreds of soil "plugs"
on the surface of your lawn. They will break down through watering and mowing in
2 to 3 weeks. You should see an immediate reduction in water run off and "puddling"
on compacted soils and sloped lawns.
Most lawns require annual aeration. Over time your lawn will show enhanced
tolerance to heat and drought stress and be healthier, more vigorous and easier
to maintain.
Thatch:
Thatch is the build up of grass stems, dead roots and
debris that accumulate in a tightly woven layer between the green vegetation and
the soil surface. Thatch build up is a natural process. A certain amount of
thatch is good – it provides insulation and buoyancy. But if it becomes too
thick – over ¾" - it can prevent air, water, and fertilization from
reaching the roots.
Fertilizer:
As
in all living things, your lawn requires food. Our program is designed to
provide your lawn with the appropriate amount of nutrients based upon the time
of growing season. For example, nitrogen is required early in the spring. It is
responsible for the green color in the grass and top growth in the grass blade.
Phosphorus aids in seed production and potassium is stored by the roots to help
your lawn "winter" better. Different nutrients are applied at various
rates throughout the season. We space our applications approximately 5 weeks
apart as the plants requirements change. The grass plant uses all of the
nutrients applied at each application.
Over seeding:
No matter how well we take care of our lawn, there will always be a small percentage of die back, therefore, it is wise to over seed lightly in the spring and
summer. It is also important to match the type of seed being purchased with the existing lawn, and
always select varieties that grow well in your area.
Inspect your lawn:
Always look out for discoloration
and small dead or dying areas. If there are any problems you cannot identify, call EMERALD.
Please don't hesitate to contact us for a free analysis and service quotation!
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