Lawn Care Tips to Keep Bushes Looking Their Best Throughout The Year

Lawn careAll agree that bushes are an important part of any lawn. They are a wonderful addition to walkways and fountains. They can be used as a background for your garden beds, making lawn care a must.

You must take good care of these woody plants, which can range in size from small to medium. This is how you ensure that they add structure, texture, and beauty to your landscaping.

There’s something for everyone, whether you have bushes already or are planning to plant them on your lawn. We will discuss the lawn care tips required to keep woody plants healthy and strong.

Lawn Care Tips

Plant the Bushes at The Right Time

You must ensure that the lawn plants you plant are able to adapt to your local climatic conditions. For information and labels about the best growing conditions, refer to the package.

Fall is the best season to add new plants to your lawn. This gives the plant more time to adapt and grow before winter. The plant’s root system will also be able to establish itself easily in the fall before it is too late for spring.

Establish a watering schedule

To thrive and survive, lawn plants need water. It is important to water your lawn at least once per week. Make sure you do this regularly.

Set the sprinkler timer to at least 10 minutes when watering plants. When the soil is saturated with water or the lawn has soaked in water, it’s time to stop watering.

Your new plants should be watered at the time of planting and every 2 to 4 weeks thereafter. After planting, water your plants every 2 to 3 days. This should be done between 3 and 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the roots will be more established.

Adhere to proper feeding habits

Mulch the soil with sufficient compost instead of fertilizing your newly planted bushes. Mulching enriches the soil with micronutrients.

You can later add fertilizers that are based on the plant’s nutritional requirements. A layer of compost can be helpful for fragile plants to increase soil nutrients.

Potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen are the most common nutrients used by plants. You will also need to have large amounts of calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.

Prune at the Right Times

Regular pruning can help to maintain the size and shape of your plants. It is also important to use different pruning tools.

Spring is the best time to prune your plants. You must also determine when the plant blooms. If the plant’s blooming season falls in spring, you can prune it once flowering has stopped.

If it flowers in summer, you can trim it in the spring or in winter to prevent new growth. For deciduous plants, you can do light pruning in summer, but heavier pruning in winter is best for dormant plants.

Ties or Stalk the branches

If the new bushes appear weak or difficult to straighten, you can help them by stowing them. The plants should be supported until they grow a strong trunk. Ensure that the stalk is the same height as your plant while you do this.

The stalk can be tied to the branches with heavy-wrapped wire. To protect the bark of the plant from being ground, shield the cable with a hose.

Check the soil

You can test the soil to determine if there are any deficiencies. You can correct any deficiencies found by soil testing with the appropriate fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers can help you overcome nitrogen deficiencies.

If you send a sample of your soil to a local soil laboratory, your soil can be tested professionally. This task can be accomplished using soil test kits that you have purchased locally.

Pay attention to Pests

Insects can be a problem when it comes to lawn maintenance. A lawn care expert will be able to advise you on the best way to combat pest infestations on your lawn.

Japanese beetles are some examples of lawn pests that can cause severe damage. Other pests include mites, caterpillars, and aphids.

Mulching the soil to retain moisture

Mulching is an excellent way to preserve the soil’s warmth and moisture. Mulch can be used to help your shrubs get water from the soil in winter. If you prefer the organic option, mulch can come in the form of either tree bark or wood chips. Plastic paper is an alternative.

Mulch can be applied to the soil around your plants. Mulch can be used to reduce soil erosion and control weeds. This will increase the growth of your new shrubs and reduce fertilizer costs.

The Takeaway

Proper bush maintenance and lawn care in Myrtle Beach are the best ways to ensure your lawn and bushes look healthy throughout the year. These practices can be applied to your lawn with great success.

Conner’s Lawn Care Service is available to assist you if you require professional lawn care and landscaping services. Get a free estimate by calling us today.

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

Lawn Care Treatments For A Healthy Yard

Lawn careHaving a beautiful lawn isn’t just luck – it takes proper execution and strategic care. Through regular lawn care, you can revive your yard and keep it looking vibrant year-round! However, different areas have their own unique needs when tending to the turf; 8 must-dos will help ensure that any type of greenery stays healthy no matter what weather or pests come its way.

Lawn care tips

Types of plants

Having a beautiful and healthy lawn isn’t just luck – it takes proper execution and strategic care. Through regular maintenance, you can revive your yard and keep it looking vibrant year-round! However, different areas have their own unique needs when tending to the turf; 8 must-dos will help ensure that any type of greenery stays healthy no matter what weather or pests come its way.

Mowing

Keep your lawn looking its best by following the one-third rule of mowing. Aim to trim only the top third of grass blades when early in the morning or late evening, as temperatures tend to be cooler during these times. Additionally, try to avoid mowing wet grass which can impede blade performance and spread diseases across your yard.

Weed Control

To keep your lawn healthy, look ahead to tackle pre-emergent weeds before they surface. Use an expert’s soil analysis of predominant weed growth in the area and its seasonality for targeted control solutions such as pre-emergent treatments. Rely on herbicides that are safe for pets and the environment with careful application or have a professional do it right away – keeping you free from unwanted results!

Watering

Flourishing lawns depend on the climate, but you can ensure your yard stays healthy and vibrant by understanding when it needs to be watered. Signs of water shock, like visible footprints in the grass after walking through an area, will give you a good indication as to whether or not your turf has enough moisture. To make sure all parts get sufficient hydration without forming puddles that could damage them, deep yet infrequent watering is recommended. This lets gravity do its job and distributes H2O evenly across growth areas!

Aeration

Is your lawn looking tired and in need of some yard maintenance? Compacted soil, heavy foot traffic, and pet urination can all lead to thatch build-up which blocks water absorption and makes it difficult for your yard to thrive. Professional aeration is the answer! Not only does this reduce compaction but experts are also able to assess nutrient deficiencies so you know exactly how to nourish your turf back into a healthy state. So give yourself peace of mind – quality aeration services may be just what you require for beautiful results from beginning to end.

Overseeding

Achieving a luscious and healthy lawn requires more than just aeration. Spreading grass seeds after the process not only replaces any damaged areas but also creates an unbeatable wall of defense against pests and weeds by making sure there are no bare spots in your turf. Give yourself the greenest thumb with this simple yet effective tip from lawn care experts!

Fertilization

Maximize your lawn’s potential with the proper fertilizer and application timing. The right product tailored to treat any specific issues – like bare patches, dryness or nutrient imbalances – is essential in achieving a healthy, luscious yard. Keep an eye out for labels that indicate when and how much should be used based on its custom-fit purpose!

Pest Control

Protect your garden and home from the potential hazards of pests. Conduct a thorough assessment to recognize both common hazardous intruders such as fire ants, grubs, and other critters that can wreak havoc on plants’ roots by burrowing in soil. Some dangerous pesticides can bring harm to humans or pets if not handled carefully—read labels meticulously before starting application procedures at optimal times when minimal activity is expected (i.e., overnight) for enhanced safety; alternatively use organic solutions with less environmental impact.

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

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

Tips For Lawn Care and Maintenance

Lawn careMake your outdoor space the envy of the neighborhood with these 5 expert-backed tricks for perfect lawn care! Regular watering and fertilization are just part of a comprehensive yard maintenance plan. Throw in proper pest control, weed management, and other considerations to keep your home’s curb appeal high—and provide an enjoyable environment for family time. With our tips as guidance, you’ll be thrilled by how vibrant and healthy your lawn can look!

Lawn Care Tips

Water Properly

Healthy and vibrant grass can be yours with proper watering habits. Make sure to take your time when hydrating the lawn by deeply soaking it in order for strong root growth– you’ll know if more water is needed through a simple stick or screwdriver test! It’s also best to make use of those early morning hours, as this will help lock in their hydration needs throughout the day.

Fertilize your lawn

Regular fertilization is an essential part of lawn care in Myrtle Beach as it keeps the soil healthy. However, there are choices to make when deciding which type. Organic fertilizer may be more natural but synthetic provides highly effective nutrients without damaging our environment. Planning your application time carefully can have a tremendous impact on plant health; while beneficial during active growth seasons, avoid using it in times of drought or extreme heat – this could risk stressing out plants unnecessarily!

Get rid of weeds

Weed removal can make all the difference for lawns and gardens. Controlling weeds through available methods helps keep your desired plants healthy by preventing competition for essential resources in a yard or garden.

Keeping weeds at bay doesn’t necessarily require harsh chemical treatments. Hand-pulling and hoeing can be effective options, especially for smaller weed growths that are just beginning to sprout up. For tougher roots or denser patches of weeds, you may have more success with a sturdy hoe slicing them off at their base before carefully removing them from your garden bed – taking care not to damage the rest of your plants in the process! An added bonus is using mulch as an organic solution which serves two purposes: blocking sunlight so germinating weed seeds are stifled while also helping retain moisture around desired vegetation throughout dry periods.

Prune regularly

Regular pruning is an essential part of yard maintenance. Cut back dead or overgrown branches to maximize the growth potential of your plants, while also ensuring their ideal shape and size! Just be sure you know when’s right for each type; improper techniques can irreversibly harm your foliage – harmless trimming one day could lead to discouraging destruction the next.

Pest Control

Pest control is not just important for the health of your plants and property – it can play a key role in public safety. By controlling pests, you reduce potential damage to yards while preventing diseases from spreading between humans and animals. Investing in pest control will help keep both people and their yards safe by protecting against unwelcome invaders that may cause harm or destruction.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now if you’re looking for an expert who can take care of your lawn.

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

Lawn Care Tips: Importance of Treatments

Caring for your lawn is an art and that’s why lawn care is essential! Beyond traditional watering and mowing, a vibrant landscape requires thoughtful feeding to give it the nutrition essential to its health. For optimal results, aeration helps break through thickly grown or compacted soil while controlling pesky insects and weeds and keeps unsightly intruders away from otherwise pristine perfection.

Advantages Of Lawn Care and Treatment

A well-maintained lawn can face the test of time and weather, protecting your outdoor haven from weeds, insects, and diseases. But with all its required care comes a long list of maintenance to do – let’s be honest: who really has that kind of extra energy? Professional lawn service providers are here for you; understand why these five advantages make them worth it!

Why Hire Lawn Care Professionals

Expertise

Let the professionals tend to your landscaping needs! With years of specialized experience, they can identify everything from disease-plagued shrubs to vulnerable grass varieties – even in a single glance. Skilled beyond compare with local climates, these experts will take proactive steps that protect your lawn against seasonal pests and diseases all year round.

Avoid accidental damage

Many Americans mistakenly believe that all grass should be fertilized in the spring and a lawn cannot be healthy without being green. Unfortunately, these misconceptions may lead to the harmful accumulation of salts due to over-fertilization! To sidestep mistakes while still maintaining your beautiful yard or garden space, consider hiring an experienced lawn treatment service that can properly care for your plants.

Affordable

For a cost-effective approach to lawn care, it is prudent to consider professional landscapers. Doing so eliminates the need for expensive equipment and products as well as avoiding costly mistakes that can result from trial and error procedures.

Increase home value

Investing in lawn care services can help you reap huge returns when it’s time to put your home on the market. Taking proper steps for maintenance and upkeep could potentially increase its value by up to 15% – a smart move that pays off! Let expert professionals take charge of keeping your property looking beautiful, so it will be ready to capture maximum worth down the line.

Consistency

Homeowners don’t have to shoulder the weight of lawn care alone. Lawn care experts can help manage and maintain a lush, healthy landscape that is ready for any setting- be it an outdoor gathering or simply relaxing in your own backyard oasis. With their expert guidance, you can enjoy thriving greenery all year round – no backbreaking work required!

Professional lawn care in Myrtle Beach is not just a luxury; it’s essential for creating an inviting outdoor space and improving air quality. Hiring an expert to take on the demanding task of maintenance can save time, energy and money while giving you peace of mind that your yard will always be in top condition.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now if you need expert help in taking care of your lawn.

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

Preparation Tips For Spring Lawn Care

lawn careYour lawn reacts to the wakeup call of nature’s spring. When this happens, you need to prepare the lawn for a year of good and healthy growth by providing it the lawn care it needs so it would thrive. By dealing with some basic chores, you will prepare your lawn to protect itself against the wave of weeds, drought, and diseases that the New Year brings.

Lawn Care Tips

Rake

Get rid of lingering grass blades and fall leaves that failed to survive winter by spring raking. If left alone, the dead blades would add to the thatch layer of your lawn. Raking will also help loosen up the matted grass clumps that are caused by snow mold, which could stifle new growth. Grab a spring tine rake and pull it upward to get rid of dead grass. It is better to rake if the soil is not muddy and soft because if you do, you will risk pulling up grass crowns that are healthy. If you’re unsure, you can call a lawn expert.

Overseed

Another important lawn care in Myrtle Beach tip is overseeding. It can help you fill thin or bare spots in the lawn. The best time to overseed your warm-season grass is in late spring. Fall is the best time for cool-season grass however, in colder places, spot seeding small spots during spring can bring about great results. If you overseed, add slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. After five weeks, the next thing you need to do is add a quick-release nitrogen feed.

Aerate

Aeration is crucial for a healthy lawn and it is considered the best solution when dealing with compacted soil. The frequency of aerating your lawn will depend on how you use your lawn and its soil type. From late spring down up to early summer is the perfect time to aerate warm-season grasses. Fall is the perfect time for cool season variations. However, if you are unable to get to it during the fall, you could deal with it in early spring.

Dethatch

Spring is the perfect time to dethatch the turf. Do this on your cool season grasses during early spring and during early summer for warm season grasses.

Weed

In case crabgrass is an issue in your lawn, add the preemergent herbicides to prevent the seeds that dropped during summer from germinating. The application requires timing. The majority of product bags provide instructions when it comes to application timing.

For your warm season lawns, make sure that you use post-emergent broadleaf herbicides for winter and perennial annual weeds. When perennial weeds begin to appear in cool-season lawns, make sure that you treat or dig them.

Fertilize

Add spring fertilizer for roughly three weeks once the grass begins to green. Add too early and you will run the risk of feeding the weeds and causing fertilizer runoff. If you apply it too early, you will cause a lush lade growth at a time when the roots might not have begun their spring growth spurt.

Water

Spring irrigation has to differ by region. For arid desert and mountain areas, be sure to water lawns regularly and increase the frequency of irrigation as temperatures rise.

Mow

Begin mowing if the ground is dry and the grass is long enough to warrant cutting. Cut the correct height for the grass type you have. Don’t mow too low. If the grass is cut too short, the sunlight will be allowed to reach the soil, which will encourage the germination of weed seeds. It also encourages the development of shallow roots, which will make the lawn at risk of suffering from drought stress.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service if you need help in taking care of your lawn.

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

Lawn Care Tips To Prepare Your Yard For Spring

Lawn careSpring is almost here, and it’s time to give your outdoor space some extra love. After months of winter wear and tear on yards and tools alike, following these nine essential lawn care tips will help ensure a successful season ahead. From ensuring proper lawn care techniques to sprucing up the garden – check out our top recommendations for readying your yard this spring!

Spring Lawn Care Tips

With warm weather and growing season around the corner, you’re likely dreaming of a bounty of fresh vegetables or vibrant flowers in your very own garden. To ensure maximum space usage for whatever plants you choose, start planning now! Know exactly how much room each species will require – did you know that tomato plants need three feet apart? Take the time to research and map out potential spots on paper before investing in supplies; trust a lawn care expert when they say it’ll be worth it once summer rolls around.

Get a head start on spring by revitalizing your lawn with some muscle power and the technique of topdressing! Rake away winter debris, then spread an even 1/4″ layer of aged compost to nourish and protect against blights. Homeowners everywhere are realizing the benefits that professional golf courses have long enjoyed from this practice- so why wait? Get outside for some yard work – you’ll be glad you did!

Keep your mower performing at its best and maintain a healthy lawn – have it serviced regularly to ensure that the first cut is always sharp. Sharp blades will allow for clean cuts of grass instead of ripping which can lead to moisture loss, infection, and slower recovery times.

If you want a lush lawn that is both resistant to weeds, drought and feels great on bare feet during the summertime, it’s important to know your grass. Letting it grow too low can be really stressful for your lawn, so experts recommend following an optimal height of 2.5-3″ – just high enough for optimum sustainability!

With warmer weather around the corner, it’s time to think about mowing your lawn. To ensure a healthy looking turf and lush green grass, wait until temperatures are consistently above 40 degrees and your grass has grown at least two inches before making the first cut of spring – waiting even longer will yield even better results!

Now is the time to reinvent your outdoor space. Take a step back and view each element of your landscaping with an open mind – what can be improved? If something isn’t thriving, don’t hesitate when it comes to removing that plant or shrub for new possibilities such as fresh vegetation or nothing at all!

With the changing of seasons comes an opportunity to assess your outdoor hardscaping. From patio stones and walkways to planters, fences, gates, arbors, and gazebos – these pieces are often exposed during inclement winter weather making repair or updating a necessity for optimal enjoyment throughout warmer months ahead.

To keep your backyard looking beautiful come spring, fertilizing is a must. A reliable lawn care Myrtle Beach option, professionals recommend four annual feedings to ensure optimal turf health. Start early with the first feeding when it’s time for winter hibernation to end – but be sure not to go overboard; too much fertilizer can cause more harm than good! Follow directions closely for best results so you and your neighbors alike will enjoy lush grass all season long. Keeping up your yard can be a great investment in both time and energy. With proper maintenance, you’ll enjoy the rewards of having an enviable lawn – something that’s sure to make all the neighbors jealous!

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

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

Lawn Care – Is Too Much Fertilizer A Problem?

fertilizerFertilizers are used to fertilize crops to ensure sufficient food production to meet the needs of the human population. Fertilizers are nutrients that provide nutrients to crops like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. It is used for residential applications such as lawn care. This allows crops to grow faster and produce more food. Nitrogen is essential for every organism’s growth. The air we breathe contains 78% nitrogen. Nitrogen gas is not available to animals or plants. Plants need nitrogen compounds from their soil to grow. These can be obtained naturally or by fertilizers.

Any substance or material that is added to soil to promote plant growth is called fertilizer. There are many types of fertilizers, most of which contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Many fertilizers found in stores are labeled with an N-P-K ratio. Fertilizers can be used all over the world to maintain green lawns and increase crop yields in agricultural fields. There are three types of fertilizers:

  • Mineral fertilizers (phosphorus, potash) are extracted from the earth and then crushed or chemically processed before they are applied.
  • Organic fertilizers (manure, compost) are made of animal feces and plant or animal decomposed material.
  • Humans can produce industrial fertilizers, such as ammonium phosphate, urea, and ammonium nitrate, by chemical reactions.

Industrial fertilizers are relatively new, whereas organic and mineral fertilizers have been used for years to increase crop yields in agriculture. Despite this, industrial fertilizers are still the most commonly used fertilizers.

Why do we need nitrogen-containing fertilizers?

All living organisms (microorganisms and plants as well as animals) require nitrogen to thrive. There is a lot of nitrogen in the air, approximately 78% of which is found in the atmosphere. However, most nitrogen is found as an odorless, colorless gas called nitrogen gas (N2). Animals and plants cannot use nitrogen gas directly. We get our nitrogen from what we eat as humans. High levels of nitrogen are found in high-protein foods such as meat, fish, and nuts. The soil is where plants get their nitrogen. This is why nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients to inhibit plant growth. There are two ways nitrogen gas can be naturally “fixed” to nitrogen-containing compounds. This is the reason why your lawn needs to be fertilized. Your plants don’t flourish on their own unless the conditions are right. Fertilizing services offer a more comprehensive approach to enhancing soil quality than DIY can.

Why do we use so much nitrogen-containing industrial fertilizer?

The short answer to this question is that nitrogen-containing fertilizers increase crop plant growth and help produce more crops. Fertile land yields more food, which allows farmers to use agricultural land more efficiently. The invention of industrial fertilizers is actually one of the reasons why the Earth’s population has grown so rapidly in the past 60-70 years. Residential use has also shot up over the years. Lawn care services in Myrtle Beach typically include weed control and fertilizing.

Where does the Nitrogen from Nitrogen-Containing fertilizers go?

It is taken up by the crops, of course. However, this is only half of the story. While fertilizers can make crops grow faster and better, half the nitrogen that we add to our soil is lost. It can either end up in the atmosphere, or it can get washed out from the soil and end up in waterways such as groundwater streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service today for professional lawn care services.

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

How To Mulch Your Garden

lawn careMulch is a garden product that gives flower beds, trees, shrubs, and other high-traffic areas a finished look. Mulch can also be used for many practical purposes, and can beautify your landscape. It can suppress weeds, maintain soil moisture, and moderate temperatures. You can use it with plastic or newspaper to smother grass and create new gardens. Additional benefits can be realized with organic mulches as they decompose. They improve soil structure by loosening clay-compacted soils. This improves drainage, which helps to retain and release nutrients in the soil. This will improve the overall health of your plants.

Mulch can be used in different areas of your yard depending on where it is being used. Mulch will be used differently in a backyard vegetable garden than in a front yard flower bed. We’ll show you which types of mulch work best in each area of your yard and what they are.

Types of mulch

There are both organic and inorganic mulches. You can use bark, shredded leaves or straw, hay, stone, gravel, black plastic, and straw as examples.

Before you get started

Learn about the various types of mulch available and how to use them. You will need to have a clear understanding of how the mulch should be used in your garden.

Bark is popular in the North for its high visibility areas. Bark can be purchased in small or large pieces, or as shredded mulch. You can also buy it in a variety of colors. It gives landscaping a finished look without compromising the aesthetics. Pine straw is a popular choice in the South due to its availability. Mulch serves a different purpose in the case of edible plants, even though we all want a neat, weed-free vegetable garden.

The best mulch type will depend on the area you intend to use it. Mulch’s ability to release nutrients from its decomposition is crucial if you want your landscape to be easy to maintain. Organic mulch is the best choice in this case. If are still unsure, contact an expert for professional lawn care services in Myrtle Beach.

How to Mulch Shrubs, Trees, and Flower Beds

Mulch ornamental beds (trees and shrubs or flowers) should be visually appealing. It should also fulfill practical needs such as weed control. Many people answer this question with bark, which we will use here. There are three main types: cedar, pine bark, and hardwood. Our sample project uses pine, which is quite cost-effective.

Mulching should be done with aesthetics in mind. Spring is a popular time to mulch, whether it’s to cover a bed for the first or to replace an existing mulch layer. It’s time for a new load if an existing mulch layer has become so brittle that it’s difficult to tell where the soil ends and the mulch begins,

How to Mulch Vegetable Beds

You should use organic mulches to loosen the soil and suppress weeds in your vegetable garden. Black plastic mulch can be used to keep weeds under control, but it will need to be removed at the end. Straw can also be used to cover the soil in the fall. It will eventually become less dense and can be tilled down. Straw is also a cost-effective option for vegetable beds.

Make sure to prepare the bed

Use a steel garden rake to smoothen the soil and remove rocks.

Transport mulch

Straw bales can be heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to move. If you plan on using straw as mulch, you should find a partner to help move the bales to your garden. A wagon or wheelbarrow can be used to move the bales. Straw can be messy and stiff stalks can cause serious damage. To avoid dust and dirt when removing bales, it’s a good idea for you to use gloves and protect your eyes. If all of this is not within your comfort zone, hire professional lawn care services.

Spread mulch

The straw will often self-divide once the wire or baling string is removed. These are tightly packed sections of the bale that are easier to spread and handle. One hand holds a flake or straw, the other holding a handful of stalks. To suppress unwanted weeds, the mulch will work better if you layer the straw thicker.

Part straw to install transplants

Straw is easy and simple to move. It is possible to replace it once the transplant is in place, but you should avoid placing straw mulch too close to the base of your plant.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service today for professional lawn care services.

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

Lawn Care Tips – Is Over-Fertilizing Possible?

lawn careAlthough lawn is not a crop, they may seem like one when it comes to fertilizers. Turfgrass is “harvested” when it’s mowed frequently, often weekly. You must replenish the soil nutrients after all the growth you cut. While fertilizing your lawn is essential for its health, there are also risks associated with over-fertilizing. For example, you could accidentally use too much fertilizer or the wrong fertilizer at the wrong time. Over-fertilizing your lawn can cause a variety of problems, and even lead to lawn death. Here are some lawn care tips that help avoid over-fertilization:

How fertilizer affects lawns

The three macronutrients that fertilizers contain are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N–P-K). Special lawn fertilizers have a higher nitrogen content than the other macronutrients because nitrogen is essential for turfgrass’s vibrant growth. The soil often has enough phosphorous (P), and potassium (K), so the fertilizers proportionately contain either very little or none of these nutrients.

The important role of soil tests

A soil test is the best way to determine how fertile your lawn needs to be to sustain growth. All other information is guesswork that could cause you to fertilize your lawn too much.

A laboratory that specializes in soil testing can provide detailed recommendations on the nutrients to be added to your lawn. A soil test can also tell you if your pH level is right for turfgrass. This is important as soil pH affects how nutrients are distributed in the soil. It is recommended that you have your soil tested every 2 to 3 years. Sandy soil should be tested annually as it leaches nutrients faster.

There are many ways that lawns can be over-fertilized

The Incorrect fertilizer

Lawns require fertilizer high in nitrogen (N), indicated by N being the highest and lowest numbers for phosphorus and potassium. Common N-P-K ratios for lawn fertilizers are 3:1:2 and 4:1:2.2. A balanced or complete fertilizer that contains all three macronutrients in equal quantities (e.g., 10-10-10) is not recommended for lawns. It will result in over-fertilization of phosphorus and potassium as well as a deficiency of nitrogen.

Too much fertilizer

Slow-release or controlled-release fertilizers are recommended for lawns. This provides grass with small amounts of nutrients over a longer time. Over-fertilization can still occur if you apply too much fertilizer to your lawn. This is because you have not measured the lawn correctly and calculated the correct amount of fertilizer. Don’t fill your spreader onto the lawn as you could accidentally spill too much fertilizer.

Fertilizing too often

The recommended lawn fertilizer is slow-release and should not be applied more than three times per year.

Fertilizer buildup

Fertilizers can build up in heavy soils with poor drainage. To prevent fertilizer over-fertilization, a soil test is required.

Signs that your lawn is over-fertilized

lawn care servicesOver-fertilizing can cause a crusty residue in the soil. This can be remedied by watering the soil after you have scratched it with a rake. Other signs that your lawn is over-fertilized are more serious and last longer.

The consequences of over-fertilized lawns

Fertilization can cause more harm than is apparent to the naked eye. Lawn fertilizer is also a major source of nitrogen pollution. Excess nitrogen seeps into groundwater and eventually ends up in rivers and streams. Fast-growing algal species, such as toxic red tide algae, are also fed by nitrogen. These harmful plants outcompete slower-growing ones. The death of plants can cause a lack of oxygen in the water, which can have devastating effects on fish and marine life.

Fixing over-fertilized lawn

It is possible to correct the problem if you realize you have over-fertilized. It doesn’t matter how severe the problem is, there are many ways to fix it. You can take immediate action by watering your lawn and removing any excess fertilizer. Sometimes, it is better to wait until all the fertilizer has evaporated. Worst case, you may need to reseed areas where grass has been damaged by fertilizer burn. It is recommended to get lawn care services if you aren’t too familiar with fertilizing soil in general.

Fertilizing your lawn is definitely not rocket science but it isn’t the simplest thing to do. To avoid over-fertilizing your lawn, let an expert to it. Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service today for professional lawn care services.

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

Mulching To Improve Lawn Health

mulchingMulching is great for your lawn because of a variety of reasons. Mulching is great for your lawn because it saves you time, money, and labor. You don’t have to rake, bag, or haul away any leaves or clippings. These are the basics you should know:

Mulching Lawn Clippings

Lawn clippings should be mulched every year. Mulching lawn clippings has many benefits that are hard to overlook. Mulching lawn clippings is a smart way to save time and money. Lawn clippings can be used in the same way as mulching leaves on the lawn in the Ffall to add valuable organic matter to the soil.

Mulching can be done best with a mulching mower. These mowers are just like other mowers but with some modifications. Mulching kits can be purchased with mowers, or they can be retrofitted. Mulching blades have extra cutting surfaces and are combined with additional baffling beneath the mower. To trap clippings under the deck, the output chute is blocked. The baffling allows the clippings to be moved around and can be used multiple times to cut the lawn.

Grass Clippings & Thatch Buildup

Thatch buildup is not caused by grass clippings. They are mainly water and the rest of the tissue is removed by microbial activity. Although grass clippings can contribute to an existing problem of thatch, as long as the lawn has been mowed regularly, and a mulching mower is employed, mulching lawn clippings will not cause thatch accumulation. Under wet or overgrown conditions, clumping may occur. To prevent grass from becoming smothered, it is important to take care not to clump.

Financial Benefits

The soil biology benefits alone may not be enough to encourage the practice of mulching grass clippings into the lawn. However, the financial rewards might. A lawnmower collection system is more expensive than a mulching set. There is more work involved in removing clippings from a lawnmower. The collection system must be empty and then the clippings need to be placed somewhere.

Even if these extra steps don’t increase the overall cost of lawn care services, they do contribute to fuel and labor costs. Where do clippings go if they are transported off-site? If they are taken to recycling facilities, there may be a charge for tipping. They can be kept on-site and put in a compost heap.

Situations where you can skip mulching with clippings

If there are a lot of weeds in your lawn such as crabgrass and dandelions, clippings can be collected rather than being mulched. The clippings can be collected around the time that weed go to seed, which may reduce the spread of weed seeds in the lawn at certain times of the year. It is a good idea to collect clippings if the lawn has been unmowed for longer than one week because of rain or other circumstances.

Mulching Leaves into the Soil

It turns out that fall leaves should be mulched and returned to the lawn. Use excess leaves to mulch your garden, or plant beds, or for filler in your compost pile. Avoid putting them out on the curb, especially if you know they will end up in the landfill. Leaves can be recycled as organic matter and should be kept on the original property where they were found.

Stay on a Lawn Care Program

it is always best to stick to a lawn care program. You could do this on your own or have a specialist do it for you. Conner’s Lawn Care Service is here to help you take care of your lawn from trimming grass to landscaping. We do it all for you!

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service today for professional lawn care services.

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