Avoid These Common Lawn Care Mistakes

lawn careMaintaining a lush, healthy lawn requires proper care and attention. Unfortunately, many homeowners make mistakes that can harm their grass and hinder its growth. To help you avoid these pitfalls, here are ten common lawn care mistakes to steer clear of.

Avoid These Common Lawn Care Mistakes

Neglecting to pick up clumps of grass after mowing:
Leaving clumps of clippings on your lawn blocks sunlight and suffocates the grass. Remove clumps by raking or mowing over them again once they are dry. Failure to do so can lead to the death of your grass over time.

Aeration and seeding at the wrong time:
For best results, aerate and seed your lawn during the growing season. This allows the grass to heal and fill in any bare areas after removing soil plugs.

Using dull mower blades:
Dull mower blades tear and shred the grass instead of providing a clean cut. This can result in moisture loss and give your lawn a brownish appearance. Check for frayed grass blades as a sign that it’s time to sharpen your mower blade.

Mowing in the same direction every time:
Mowing your lawn in the same direction repeatedly causes the grass blades to bend over, leading to a less healthy and dense lawn. Vary your mowing pattern each week to encourage upright growth. If you notice the grass bending over, lightly rake the lawn before mowing to help it stand up for a cleaner cut.

Improper watering – under or overwatering:
lawn careWatering your lawn incorrectly can lead to problems. Overwatering can wash away nutrients, promote fungal growth, and stress the grass, making it more susceptible to disease. Most lawns need one to two inches of water per week, so find the right balance to avoid issues.

Lack of a yearly plan:
To maintain a healthy lawn year-round, it’s essential to have a plan in place. Determine the specific needs of your lawn at different times of the year and ensure it receives the necessary care and maintenance.

Ignoring seasonal changes:
Seasonal changes impact your lawn’s health and recovery. Prepare your lawn for each season by adjusting mowing frequency and height, watering practices, and considering aeration when needed.

Neglecting to use fertilizer:
Fertilizing is crucial for a vibrant, envy-worthy lawn. However, knowing when and how to fertilize can be challenging due to the wide variety of products available. Educate yourself on proper fertilization techniques to ensure optimal results.

Choosing the wrong grass type for your climate:
Selecting the appropriate grass type based on your climate is essential. Warm-season and cool-season grasses thrive in different conditions. Planting the wrong grass for your region can result in wasted time and money, as it will eventually die off.

Cutting the grass too short:
Repeatedly mowing the grass too short, also known as scalping, depletes the grass’s energy reserves, weakens it, and makes it more susceptible to weed invasion. Maintain an appropriate mowing height to promote healthy growth and a lush lawn.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a beautiful and thriving lawn that enhances your outdoor space.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now and let our team take care of your lawn.

Conner’s Lawn Care Service
Myrtle Beach, SC
843-504-4901
http://connerslawncare.com/

Spring Pests Prevention And Weed Control For Your Landscape

weed controlWeeds are the bane for every gardener. The second most common problem is pests. Weeds are another common problem that can be a real headache. It feels like a constant battle and takes away the fun of playing in the garden. We are here to let you know that there is an answer! For weed control and pest prevention to taking control of your landscape, you need to be ahead of the game. You ask, “How?” Learn how to prevent weeds from growing in your spring landscape using some tried and tested methods.

Weed Control

It is time to begin Myrtle Beach weed control today. The earlier you get rid of weeds the better. Spring is the best time to tackle weed prevention in your landscape. We’re talking about the usual suspects, including dandelions and chickweed. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Once your garden has been established, you should temper your tilling. You can’t avoid it. Weed seeds can be sneaky, little bugs that prefer to lay dormant under the surface of soil. When they are brought closer to the surface of the soil it encourages their germination and spread.

Plant your Flowers Closer Together. Weeds love large, open spaces that are sunny. Planting your flowers closer together will give weeds less space to spread and take over. You’ll want to still follow the recommended planting distances, but by sticking your plants close together, you can take away valuable real estate from weeds.

Mulch is a great way to smother weeds and prevent them from taking over the landscape. By applying a thick layer of mulch (2 inches or more), you can smother weeds. This will also make it less inviting for weed seeds that you might have brought up to the surface. Mulch can be a good alternative to landscape fabric that is not organic. It will break down over time and improve the soil.

Just like other plants, weeds can’t live without water. It can be tempting just to turn on the sprinkler and water your garden in one go, but this will give thirsty plants what they need to overtake. Consider using a soaker-hose that will only water your plants where they need it.

Spring Pests: How to Prevent Them from Invading Your Home

Keep unwanted garden insects at bay by weeding early. Start by cleaning everything in your shed, especially any pots and planters that you intend to reuse. This will prevent any plant diseases that are recurring from appearing. Your soil will also benefit from some attention. Your plants will be more susceptible to pests if your soil is unhealthy and weak. Now is the perfect time to spread that compost you have been working on. Rotating your vegetables every year can also reduce pests.

weed controlHow to prevent weeds in your rock landscapes using natural methods

A newly laid out stone border in a stone patio or garden is a very satisfying sight. It looks so fresh and clean. It is not as satisfying to have to remove weeds from the cracks in those stones after a few months. You can tackle the weeds that grow in these rock landscapes with a variety of methods.

Sufficiently Sloped Patios: Weeds require moisture to thrive, and patios with a poor slope are more likely to retain moisture. A properly sloped patio, on the other hand, will promote proper drainage. It can be difficult for you to do this on your own but the effort is worth it. Our lawn care experts will be happy to visit your home to assess the problem and offer solutions.

Sweep regularly: This simple, but effective technique will help you to prevent weeds. Regularly sweeping your patio or driveway stones will reduce the chance of seedlings settling and disrupting new weed seeds.

Have you noticed that unwanted bugs are growing between stones? Here are some natural ways to get rid of weeds that have popped up between stones.

Baking soda is a kitchen staple that works best in spring or fall when weeds grow quickly. Baking soda will adhere better to weeds after rain. You can sprinkle baking soda on the weeds and then sweep the mixture into the cracks. Baking soda will draw out the moisture of the plant and kill it. Keep it away from flowers and grassy areas, as it can have the same effect on all types of foliage.

weed controlVinegar is an alternative to baking soda that can be used to kill weeds growing between stones on a patio, in cracks in driveway pavement, or along rock borders. White vinegar is usually found in most households. Pour some into a sprayer and spray it between the cracks of your rock landscape. After it has worked its magic for a few hours, return to the area and rinse off. Just be careful not to spray nearby flowers.

Boiling water: This is a simple and affordable solution. Boiling Water destroys the cell structure of a plant. You will need to be careful when applying baking soda and vinegar to prevent killing your plant babies. Use a teakettle with a spout to direct the water where you need it. Pour the water generously but slowly onto the weeds. Some weeds, especially the tougher ones, may require more than one application. Overall, however, it should work!

Keep Your Lawn Weed-Free

It is important to stop weeds before they grow and become a problem.

Synthetic herbicides are available in three different types: selective herbicides (selective, non-selective, and preemergent). Selective herbicides can be used on lawns. Just make sure to read the label. Pre-emergents and non-selective herbs are safe for lawns, but not non-selective ones. Here’s a bit more information about them. Use them with caution around children and pets, especially, because they contain powerful chemicals.

Lawn Care

Weeds will most likely appear when your lawn does not feel its best, but a little TLC goes a long way. It is important to water your lawn regularly, but not too often. This will encourage the growth of deeper roots. By mowing at the correct height (normally the highest setting on your lawnmower), you can encourage your grass to grow thicker, making it more difficult for weeds to germinate. Fertilizing your lawn every six to eight week during the growing period will give it strength to fight those pesky weeds.

Pests and weeds are a nuisance, but if you take the right steps early in the growing season, it will make your gardening life easier. Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now.

Conner’s Lawn Care Service
Myrtle Beach, SC
843-504-4901
http://connerslawncare.com/

Lawn Care Tips For Winter?

lawn careIs lawn care possible even in the harshest winter months? We will be discussing the importance of lawn winterization, and offering suggestions for maintaining it during winter months.

Why should I winterize my lawn?

Fall fertilizing works because plants respond to environmental triggers that begin the process of preparing for winter. As the days get shorter and the air gets cooler, turfgrass slows down growth and shifts food resources from its leaves to its roots. Despite the fact that air temperatures continue to drop, plants’ roots are still active in the soil. This holds true for many types of plants, including grass.

The secret to plants’ spring return is to shift excess nutrients to the roots. These food reserves are the fuel for spring’s awakening. You feed the roots by fertilizing them in autumn.

Your lawn’s nutrient requirements change as the weather turns colder. Potassium is a key ingredient in winterizing fertilizers. Potassium is an important nutrient for overall plant health. Potassium is a nutrient that works at the cellular level to make plants more resilient to stress and cold. Potassium is also important for the balanced feeding of your lawn. It helps plants absorb other nutrients. How can I care for my lawn this winter?

Here are the lawn care tips for this winter

Keep on Moving

During the fall season, water your lawn and mow it as necessary. As the season ends, reduce the mower’s setting to the lowest setting for the final two cuts of the year. This will allow for more sunlight to reach the crown and less leaf to turn brown in winter.

Air The Soil

Fall is also a great time to aerate your grass so that water, fertilizer, and oxygen can reach the roots. A gas-powered, portable lawn aerator can be rented for as little as $70 per day. This self-propelled machine can quickly dig holes in the soil and remove dirt plugs. Hire a lawn care contractor if you have a large yard, such as more than 3 to 4 acres.

Rake The Leaves

Although raking leaves may not be everyone’s favorite pastime, it is important to get rid of fallen leaves as soon as you can. Do not wait for all the leaves to fall before you start raking. You should not wait until all the leaves have fallen to the ground before you start raking. The leaves will get wet from the rain and morning dew and stick together creating an impenetrable mat which will choke the grass and spread fungal diseases.

It is important to not leave any debris, leaves or toys on the lawn. These items can smother grass, invite pests, and create disease conditions.

A lawnmower equipped with a vacuum or collection bag can be used as an alternative to raking leaves. These are especially useful if you have large yards with deciduous trees. No matter what type of lawnmower you use, make sure that the leaves are removed before they become a soggy mess.

Fertilize

Many lawn experts agree that fertilizing your lawn once a year is too often. Instead, fertilize it in the fall. Why? The reason? Rhizomes are horizontal plant stems found just below the soil’s surface. They produce the grass blades above and the roots beneath. Applying fertilizer in the fall provides essential nutrients to the grass for deep roots to develop now, and for keeping nutrients available for next spring.

Then, wait until the middle to late fall to apply dry lawn fertilizer. Be sure to not miss any areas. A crank-style broadcast spreader is possible, but you can get the best coverage with a walk-behind spreader. Although it takes longer to apply fertilizer evenly, especially in hilly areas, a drop spreader is the most effective way to do so.

Fill In The Bald Spots

Autumn is a great season to repair any bald patches or bare spots on your lawn. An all-in-one lawn-repair mixture is a best and fastest way to accomplish this. This ready-to-use mixture is available at most garden centers and home shops. It contains grass seed, organic fertilizer, and special quick-starter formula.

To remove the soil from the bald area of your lawn, use a garden rake. Spread a thick layer on the lawn repair mixture. The mixture should be compacted lightly. After that, water the area every other day for two more weeks.

You are creating a path for lush, healthy lawns when you winterize them. It takes effort to maintain a healthy lawn all year. It can be difficult to maintain a lawn year-round.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now if you need help in maintaining your lawn.

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Conner’s Lawn Care Service
Myrtle Beach, SC
843-504-4901
http://connerslawncare.com/