Essential Spring Lawn Care Tasks

lawn careSpring is marked by the return of the first crocuses and daffodils. These signs are also a sign that your lawn is ready for the growing season. These lawn care tasks will vary depending on the climate in your area. Start when it is clear that there won’t be any snowfall in your area. You can also time your yard work to coincide with when the local forsythia plants cease blooming and local lilacbushes start flowering.

There are eight things homeowners should do in spring to ensure a healthy lawn.

Lawn Care Tips You Need To Know

Make sure to rake deeply

When you want your lawn to be ready for new growth, the first thing that you should do is to rake it. You might think, “But my trees hadn’t lost any leaves for months.” Why should I rake? Raking is more than just removing tree leaves. Even if you do a great job of raking leaves in fall, there is still thatch to contend with.

Thatch, which is mainly composed of dead turfgrass tissue, is the layer between the green vegetation and the soil and root system below. If it is more than 1/2 inch thick, it can cause damage to your grass’ health. This is why it is important to rake leaves deeply in autumn.

You still have to rake in spring no matter how well you did in fall. To prevent dead grass from becoming a chokehold on new growth, it’s a good idea for you to remove any grass blades that have died during the winter. This is a spring-cleaning of your lawn. The turfgrasses can be vulnerable and tender in spring. It’s best to wait for the lawn to start to turn green. This indicates that the grass roots have firmly rooted and that the plants are actively growing. It’s better not to use a garden rake that has metal tines, which can cause damage to young plants.

A spring raking can also be beneficial if you find patches of grass that are matted. Snow mold, a type of lawn disease, can be found if you look closely and see that the grass blades are stuck together. These matted patches can be difficult to penetrate for new grass. Raking can help.

Aerate if Necessary

Soil compaction can occur when your lawn is subject to heavy foot traffic. You can remove moss from compacted soil. However, it is best to investigate the root cause. It’s often compacted soil, which needs to be aerated.

The lawn aerator allows air and water to reach the roots of the lawn by creating openings in the turf. A lawn aerator can be rented at big box hardware stores or you can use a hand-operated aerator if your lawn is small. It is unlikely that your soil contains a lot of clay, which would require regular aeration.

Although spring is not the best time to aerate your lawn, it may be necessary due to certain circumstances. It may be necessary for spring aeration if soil has become so compacted that it is unable to grow grass. Spring aerating should be discouraged as the aeration holes are a fertile spot for weed seeds. The first seeds to germinate in spring are lawn weeds, especially crabgrass. Aerating your lawn will stir them up and give them a home. Aerating your lawn in spring is a good idea. This will allow you to weed the grass after they have grown but before they go seed.

Examine the soil

Acidic soil can also be identified by moss covering the ground. The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity soil. A pH value of 7 indicates neutral soil. Acidic soils have pH levels lower than 7, while alkaline soils have pH levels higher than 7.

A neutral pH is important for grass. If your soil is too acidic, it will not grow well or may become prone to moss growth. There are many soil amendments that can be used to bring the pH level back to the optimal level to grow grass. Ground limestone is one common way to raise the pH in very acidic soils. This is not an instant fix as the liming process takes place slowly.

To determine the soil’s acidity before you add soil amendments to your soil, send a sample of your soil to your local cooperative extension office. A cooperative extension office provides free scientific-based advice in agriculture, horticulture and other areas. You can call, visit their website or go to your local extension office to get advice on the amount of lime you will need per square foot. To apply lime, you will need a fertilizer spreader.

Too alkaline soil can cause lawn problems. To lower the pH in extremely alkaline soils, your extension office might recommend top-dressing with compost or elemental sulfur.

lawn careOverseed

A lawn with many bare spots due to neglect, dog spots, heavy traffic or neglect might need grass seed to fill those gaps. Overseeding refers to the practice of sowing seed on top of existing grass. When overseeding, apply a slow-release fertilizer (starter fertilizer). The new seed should be kept moist until it sprouts and is active growing. After the grass sprouts and germinates, it is possible to start a regular fertilization route using quick-release nitrogen fertilizer.

Although it is possible to only apply seed to visible bare spots, it is common to oversee the entire lawn to keep it healthy and thick. This is a great way to introduce grass seed from new varieties to your lawn. If you have recently lost shade trees, overseeding your lawn with a sunny-grass mixture can help ensure that it continues to thrive.

While fall is the best time for overseeding, spring is a good option if your grass needs it most. You should be prepared for crabgrass growing up and eating the fertilizer.

lawn careFertilize

Organic fertilization can be done by adding compost to the soil or by using a mulching mower that turns lawn clippings into nitrogen. It should be part of your lawn care Myrtle Beach routine. Scotts Miracle-Gro Company offers a well-recognized schedule that fertilizes lawns, which includes a spring feed. Experts recommend that cool-season grasses receive a lighter spring feeding and a heavier fall one. Over fertilizing in spring can cause weed and disease problems. If you fertilize in the fall, your lawn will still have fertilizer for spring.

Use Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Spring lawn maintenance is not just about maintaining healthy lawn growth, but also about weed prevention. All lawn weeds can be treated differently. You will need to use either a pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicide depending on whether the weed is perennial or annual.

You may need to use both because crabgrass is an annual weed that is difficult to eradicate. Crabgrass attacks lawns when temperatures remain between 65 and 70 degrees for several days. Pre-emergent herbicides are used to control weeds before they emerge. They act by creating a chemical barrier on the soil’s top layer that covers seeds, preventing them from growing roots or shoots.

Core aeration should not be done if you are using pre-emergent herbicides. This will cause the shield to be punctured and reduce the effectiveness of the weed killer.

Pre-emergent herbicides can also be used against grass seeds. If you are also using a traditional preemergent herbicide, overseeding will not be very effective. Pre-emergent herbicides can be used to kill weeds. Wait until the fall to overseed with turfgrass seed. Tenacity is a pre-emergent that won’t damage spring-sown grass seed. Tenacity, although a costly product, uses mesotrione which is highly selective and won’t damage turfgrass seed.

Use Post-Emergent Herbicides or Pull Spring Weeds

The dandelions, cheerful yellow flowers that first appear in spring, are a stubborn perennial grower. They can be a nuisance for some people, but they can cause serious problems for others. You can get rid of them by cutting off the flower stems. If you’re feeling more ambitious, remove the root from the weeds using a tool that can extract all the roots and prevent them from regrowing. There are many weed-popper tools that can do the job.

You should choose a broadleaf herbicide if you want to spray a post-emergent herbicide on dandelions. Organic green thumbs that don’t use chemicals can pick the dandelion leaves and make a salad out of them.

You can also deal with chickweed, white clover and wild violets in spring. However, these usually appear after the dandelions in late spring or early summer.

The Lawn Mower should be serviced

It’s also the perfect time to bring out your lawnmower and give it a good cleaning. It’s time to start it; stubborn start-ups can indicate that your mower needs a tune up. Your mower should be serviced once a year. You can restore your mower’s health in three simple steps. You might consider buying a new lawn mower if your mower needs more than a simple tune-up.

Sharpening the mower blade is one of the most important maintenance tasks. Regular sharpening will ensure that the mower blade tears rather than cuts the grass plants. This will result in a lush green lawn instead of one with brown tips.

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/

Five Things You Should Never Do To Your Lawn

lawn careWhen you’ve done everything from watering, weeding, down to edging but still can’t get the lawn that you want, you must be doing something wrong. Check out the most common lawn care mistakes that homeowners make and how to avoid them:

Lawn Care Tips

  1. WATERING TOO FREQUENTLY

A lot of people think that it’s just natural to water your lawn every day or at least every other day. If you’re one of the many individuals who think watering frequently makes good grass, you’re dead wrong. As a matter of fact, watering too frequently stimulates shallow root growth. This means grass won’t be extending its roots down into the soil in search of water since it can find this resource on the surface. Although watering your lawn can keep it green, it won’t be able to easily adapt to harsh weather. Grass needs to develop longer reaching roots to get the nutrients it needs, which is found deep within the soil. It’s best to not have a watering pattern at all to give your lawn some versatility. However, there are hours in the day that’s best for watering your lawn.

  1. AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WATERING

A common lawn care Myrtle Beach mistake that people make when watering plants is the timeframe at which they are doing it. Watering your lawn somewhere in between 10 AM to 4 PM doesn’t do any good. Watering during this period means around 20-30 percent of the water will simply evaporate and most of the water just goes down into the soil. The most effective time to water your lawn is somewhere around 2 AM to 9 AM. This gives the leaves of the grass enough time to dry and photosynthesize during the day. So time your sprinklers at the said period for a better-looking lawn.

  1. CUTTING DEEP

It’s good practice to trim your lawn. Lawn maintenance is an integral part in keeping a lush green lawn. However, mowing too close to the ground will not yield the best results. Cutting off too much of the grass blades can hinder development. When mowing, check and set your blades so that it will only remove just a third of the length of grass blades. Hiring lawn care service helps homeowners sort out this dilemma quickly. Cutting the grass too short would divert energy that’s supposed to help in the development of strong roots and stems. Here are some blade height recommendations for mowing different lawn types:

  • 1 – 2 inches for Bermuda grass
  • 1/2 – 1 ½ inch for Hybrid Bermuda
  • 2 ½ – 4 inches  for St. Augustine
  • 3 – 3 ½ inches for Tall Fescue
  • 1 – 2 inches for Centipede
  • 1 – 2 inches for Zoysia
  1. FORGETTING TO SHARPEN OR REPLACE MOWING BLADES

If you think the sharpness of the mowing blades is irrelevant, it’s totally wrong. Mowing blades need to be sharp at all times. Dull blades can leave rugged cuts and stunt grass growth. It will also give your grass a whitish cast. Always remember to sharpen your blades or replace them with new ones each year or whenever necessary. It’s easy to notice when your blades are going dull when your lawn mower won’t just glide through your lawn. Check your blades at all times before taking your mower out for a spin. You may also hire lawn care if you want to have it done professionally.

  1. USING FERTILIZERS THE INCORRECT WAY

A lot of homeowners are oblivious to the fact that different lawn types require specific amounts fertilizers to help them grow. For instance, Bermuda requires higher nitrogen content at 3-4 pounds for every 1000 square feet annually. Meanwhile, Centipede grass only needs 1 pound of nitrogen each year for every 1000 square feet.

There’s also a correct time to fertilize your lawn. For warm-season grass, it’s recommended that they are fertilized when they are completely green in spring. For cool-season grass, it’s the other way around. When applying the fertilizer, be sure to water it down once it has all been laid out. This ensures even coverage throughout your lawn.

If you’ve got trouble or need help with your lawn, call Conner’s Lawn Care Service and we’ll be happy to serve you.

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

Why You Need A Landscaping or Lawn Care Company

landscapingEvery homeowner loves having beautiful landscaping, lawn, trees, etc. However, most will admit that while they want the beautiful results of a gorgeous yard, they don’t have the time to create it and/or maintain it. If your idea of fun after work or on the weekends does not involve weeding and planting, then this article is for you! Enter the professional landscaper or lawn care expert….

What Landscaping Companies Provide

Landscaping companies will maintain all the chores and upkeep that a beautiful lawn requires so that you can enjoy your life in other areas while also enjoying the fruit of these labors.

More than just mowing grass….

Perhaps you have always wanted a vegetable garden so you can grow a portion of the food your family eats. A landscaping company can come in and design that garden with you, then plant it and help you maintain it and know when to harvest, etc. Or maybe you want lots of flowering trees or bushes to enjoy throughout the four seasons. A landscaping company will help you choose plants that will bloom at different times of the year so you can have blooms all through the year.

They will also put in an irrigation system designed for your yard and flowers. Automatic sprinklers go a long way in conserving water, as well as saving you lots of time and labor keeping your plants watered. These systems are worth their weight in gold!

Even if you live in a colder climate, you still benefit from having a great lawn care Myrtle Beach company. They can help remove snow, hang Christmas lights, design outdoor décor for the holidays, plowing or salting. Many companies have a service package that would be like a “set it and forget it” type thing so you’ll never have to worry about getting out of the driveway in the event of snow. They would clear your path before you even get up!

Another great benefit is knowing your yard and garden are tended and looked after if you are out of town. You won’t have to worry about not being there to water the flowers or tend the garden. Most landscaping Myrtle Beach professionals will come according to a preset schedule, so if you’re out of town, they will continue to come anyway unless you specify otherwise. This means you get to come home from your trip to a perfectly manicured lawn!

If life has you frazzled, why not trust the pros with all your landscaping needs? Call us today at Conner’s Lawn Care Service to see how we can help!!

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

Lawn Care Tips For Different Seasons

lawn careRegular lawn care and maintenance throughout the year is important for a healthy and green lawn. If you don’t, the grass will become overgrown and it will be susceptible to different kinds of lawn diseases and pest infestation. The care and maintenance needs of your lawn vary depending on the temperatures and that’s why it is important to pay close attention to the season for proper lawn care. Provided below is a guide on how you can take good care of your lawn all throughout the year in Myrtle Beach.

Spring Lawn Care

The spring is one of the busiest time of the year for taking care of the lawn. This season brings sunshine and rainfall for your landscape plants and the entire lawn. It is considered as the major growth season. Plants and flowers produce new bloom, shrubs and trees, produce new leaves, and grass grows much faster.

In spring, your lawn care and maintenance routine should include weeding, lawn mowing, border edging for the sidewalk, driveways, and walkways, cleaning hard surfaces, cleaning up debris and dead winter growth, and more.

Summer Lawn Care

The summer season brings with it dry heat, less rainfall, and the hot sun and that is why lawn care Myrtle Beach is important to protect your lawn.

Lawn mowing on weekly basis is important to stop overgrowth and make sure that the lawn is maintained very well. It prevents your grass from becoming susceptible to lawn diseases and pests that could damage your landscape.

Watering needs to be done every week whether it be from an irrigation system or from rainfall. It should also be deep and infrequent watering than short and frequent sprinkler applications.

Mulching is an affordable and easy way to offer your lawn with several benefits. It creates a protective layer of material on top of the soil that aids in the retention of soil moisture and prevention of weed growth. Organic mulches such as grass clippings, straw, and bark chips naturally decompose and they can assist in improving the conditions of the soil.

Fall Lawn Care

Fall is the best time for you to prepare your lawn for the upcoming winter. Plant and grass growth will start to decline and eventually go dormant. Your grass will still grow but at a much slower rate.

Clean up your landscape and lawn before the cold season arrives. You can hire a lawn care expert to help you. During this season, weak or dead tree branches and limbs will start to fall and then cover your lawn. You have to rake up the wet and dead leaves, and remove any of the dead plants and debris before winter comes. Anything that is left on the lawn could smother your grass and result in bare or dead spots in your landscape.

March is considered to be the most important month when it comes to fertilizing your lawn, but doing so on September and October could help in protecting your landscape and your lawn once the colder season comes.

Early fall is also the best time to plant or reseed new sod. During this time, temperatures will start to cool down a bit, and it is crucial to sod or seed before winter.

You can also stop soil compaction in winter by aerating your lawn during the fall season. Punching tiny holes in the soil will let grass roots and soil to obtain and store the required oxygen, water, and fertilizer throughout the winter months.

Winter Lawn Care

Even though your grass might look a bit browner in the winter, it still requires lawn care and maintenance on a regular basis to survive through the cold weather and create green and new growth during the spring. Even though winter needs a bit less lawn care, you should not ignore your lawn. Concentrate on your winter yard cleanup, lawn care and maintenance, as well as protecting your grass.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service if you need the help of an expert in maintaining and caring for your lawn.

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

Winter Lawn Care Tips

Lawn Care Myrtle BeachThe weather has been warm, but, it won’t last forever. Your lawn doesn’t need as much attention in winter as it does during summer, fall, and spring. However, it should still be taken care of and now is the time for winter lawn care. It is still important to maintain your lawn’s health and condition for spring.

Lawn care tips you might find helpful

Fertilize and Aerate

You must aerate your lawn before the first frost date in your area. These tips will help you if you’re new to this or want to remind yourself how it should be done. It will allow your grass to breathe before it goes dormant and help in removing any compaction from the warm season.

After you have mowed the lawn, fertilize it. This will ensure that the grass has all the nutrients it requires to prepare for winter. During winter, the grass roots will absorb and retain the nutrients. Your lawn will then use the stored nutrients when spring arrives, giving it an advantage and restoring its lush green appearance. A well-maintained lawn will help you avoid pests, diseases, and weed growth once the weather warms up.

Keep it clean

It is possible that leaves may have accumulated in your yard from fall, which can cause your lawn to become suffocated before winter. Don’t leave the leaves on your lawn to collect disease, especially if they are too moist. If the leaves aren’t too wet or too thick you can mulch them with your mower to break down the nutrients and recycle them back into your lawn. If the leaves are too thick or wet, you can use your rake to get rid of them.

Avoid too much lawn traffic

Do not walk on lawns that are dormant, or frozen. If the same path is being used multiple times, any strong grass could easily become weak.

Ice Care: Be Wise

To ensure a safe walking path, it is important to keep your walkways, driveways and sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Scotts Ice Melt can be used to treat these areas. Because it has a four-fold melting capability of rock salt, you don’t need to use as much. It can be used only as needed to not damage your lawn or landscape.

Make sure you are prepared

Set up your winter lawn maintenance plan early. You can feel the chill in your air. Make sure to check the forecast regularly and allow yourself enough time to prepare your plan before it is too late.

If you need assistance maintaining your lawn, call Conner’s Lawn Care Service.

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

What Essential Lawn Care Tools Should Every Homeowner Have?

lawn careCongratulations on your new home! There are many positive aspects to homeownership, such as the ability to receive a regular payment that goes toward building equity. Gone are the days of a landlord taking care of all that maintenance. That’s it. You can enjoy the outdoors and planting flower beds, or even a vegetable garden, by owning your own home. You will find landscaping adds value and enjoyment to your home. You might be wondering what essential lawn care products you should keep in your shed to maintain your basic yard needs if you are new to homeownership.

These are just a few of the essential tools you need to maintain your lawn. You can continue to add more equipment as you move into your new home. Have a lawn? Take a look at our list of essential tools for your toolbox.

Lawn Care Tips

Lawn mower

Even if you have someone else cut your lawn, this tool is essential for any emergency trimming and lawn maintenance.

Trimmer for string/lawn

This tool can reach those difficult-to-reach places your mower cannot reach, such as around tree trunks. If you flip it over, it can double as an edger along your driveway or landscaping beds.

Leaf rake

A good rake is enough for fall chores, but you don’t need to buy a blower-mulcher combination to help with your chores.

Soil rake

A soil rake is more durable than a leaf-rake and will help you to level your garden and push your mulch around. It can be used to groom a driveway or pea gravel path.

Spreader

You can use a hand-held spreader or a wheeled spreader for grass seeding and fertilizer distribution to increase curb appeal.

Snow shovel

It’s a must-have in snowy areas, but you can also use it as a travel tool. A snow shovel is a great tool for outdoor cleanup.

Spade shovel with long-lasting durability

This tool is essential for Conway SC lawn care, such as moving a shrub or planting a tree, and digging a hole to meet various landscaping needs.

Soil knife

Although you might believe that you only need one bucket of gardening tools, this tool does many of the trickier tasks. It can be used to dig, transplant, create container gardens, weed, or reach into any nooks or crannies other tools cannot.

Double-hand hoe

The double-hand hoe is a lawn maintenance tool. This double-hand hoe is a combination of a digger and a hand tool. It can be used to loosen soil, dig up large weeds, and much more.

Hand pruner

These small shears will be your go-to tool for shaping and caring for your flowers and shrubs. Your yard will sparkle if you keep them sharp.

Lopper

These shears have larger blades and handles that allow you to keep tree branches under control. This is a must-have for curb appeal and protection of your home.

Hedge shear

These will be appreciated by your neighbors. This essential lawn care tool is indispensable for taming unkempt hedges.

Hose

You can also purchase a spraynozzle attachment to water your vegetable and flower garden beds. You can also let your children play with it during hot days.

Protect your property

One way to make your property shine is by keeping it in top shape. Learn more about homeowners insurance to protect your home. The Farm Bureau agent near you will help you find the right coverage for your needs.

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/

How to Grow a Lawn in Dry Conditions

lawn careIn areas that are dry and have limited water resources, lawns are more likely than others to be criticised for their water use. The truth is that most lawns don’t require as much water as homeowners give them. Here are some lawn care tips that will help your lawn thrive in dry conditions and endure droughts.

Lawn Care Tips

Water correctly

Watering correctly is equivalent to watering less when it comes to Conway lawn care. It is essential to remove the lawn’s water addiction and make it more efficient. It is bad practice to water your lawn every morning. This can cause your lawn to need more water each day. Turfgrasses that receive this kind of routine, shallow watering are more likely to develop shallow roots and eventually die. They lose most of the moisture they receive from watering daily. You can gradually train your lawn to reduce the amount of water it receives, and encourage deeper roots to utilize any moisture in the soil. Even grasses that are not water-loving can thrive and survive with less water than they receive during the normal day.

You should water in dry conditions or during drought. It is best to water in the morning, before the sun rises. This evaporates moisture in your landscaping before it can seep into soil. Windy days are also not a good time to water because evaporation can also be faster. A weekly watering under ideal conditions is more effective than a daily shallow watering.

Adapt To Summer heat

Your lawn will be the focal point of family activities in the spring and autumn. Summer heat will require a new approach to yard maintenance and use. This is the best time to reduce foot traffic and cut back on lawn maintenance. Dethatching and aerating must be done in cooler months, not during summer. A higher height of grass will shade the soil and keep the roots cool.

Reduce Stress during Drought

You can train a lawn so it thrives with less water. There are also management methods you can use to help the lawn in drought situations. The most important thing you can do for your lawn is to not go on it. While summer is the best season to reduce foot traffic, it’s possible to eliminate it completely during drought conditions. You can avoid major lawn maintenance during droughts by bringing your pets along for long walks or to the dog park, rather than letting them play on your lawn. Dry, hot weather will make it less necessary to mow your lawn. This will slow down grass growth. It is best to stop mowing during drought conditions, unless absolutely necessary.

You can allow grasses to go dormant in drought. If there are local watering restrictions, make sure you water enough to keep the roots alive. Turf grasses can be left dormant for as long as four weeks without causing permanent damage. If the drought lasts for longer than four weeks, water the turf grass deeply enough to slightly rehydrate it and then wet the soil until it reaches about five inches in depth. This will not cause your grasses or roots to grow greener, but it will keep them alive.

Plant Grasses that are drought-tolerant

There are grass varieties that need minimal watering in both cool and warm season areas. You can reseed or plant a lawn anytime you want. If the grass is not moist enough, you can gradually transform it by top seeding each year with better seeds. Some grass species that are drought-tolerant thrive while others die slowly.

Correctly Mow

Most lawns can be mowed very short. However, in areas with drought or extreme climates, it is important to mow at a higher height. The grass blades hold the most water, so the more time the grass is cut, the more moisture will be available to the roots. Sandy soil drains quickly and makes it more difficult to obtain the moisture you need. You can improve the quality of your lawn by using a mulching mower to mow it or top-dressing the lawn with organic material like compost.

Reduce the Lawn

Many people forget that water is a valuable commodity. It is possible to reduce the area of grass that you have. You can reduce the water needed to sustain grass by adding patios, decks, and courtyards.

Many areas of the country have experienced severe droughts and water shortages. This has led to restrictions, bans and a cultural shift toward conserving water. It is better to reduce the size of your yard if water is scarce. It is okay to keep a lawn if it is needed for pets, kids, or aesthetic reasons. It is important that the area be smaller and easier to maintain.

Look for other groundcovers

The drought-resistant grasses will require more water than any other groundcover species. You should think about converting lawn space to another type of living groundcover if low moisture conditions are permanent and inevitable.

Conner’s Lawn Care can help you with all your lawn maintenance needs.

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

Fertilizing and Mulching for Beginners

mulchingMulch can be fertilized on top. However, the success of fertilizing depends on how quickly it decomposes and the type of mulch. You can fertilize the mulch with fast-decomposing mulches like seed hulls and grass clippings before you apply it again each year. This is when most of the mulching from last year will have been removed.

To ensure that organic mulch such as bark and wood mulch is not decomposing too quickly, it’s important to remove mulch from your garden soil before you apply fertilizer.

Granular fertilizers should be used in as close to the ground as possible. Granular fertilizers are most effective when they come into contact with moist soil. This is where they can break down and release their nutrients.

When fertilizing mulch tops, liquid fertilizers are the best option. They will penetrate the mulch and reach the soil below.

Fertilizing and Mulching

When fertilizer is applied to mulch, timing is crucial. You will need to reapply mulch every spring if you are using fast-decomposing mulches like straw, grass clippings or cocoa hulls. It is a good idea to fertilize before you add new mulch. This is because most of the mulch will have been broken down by this time. It is easy to fertilize and then add mulch.

It may be harder to fertilize mulch if it is slow-decomposing, like bark mulch or nuts. You need to choose a liquid fertilizer that penetrates mulch best and helps plants grow.

Apply granular fertilizer or liquid fertilizer to gardens with less than 1/2 inch of mulch left. Then add new mulch. To discourage future weed growth, add at least 2-3 inches of mulch.

Avoid granular fertilizer in gardens or areas where there is a lot of mulch (greater that 1/2 inch). To ensure that you reach all tree and plant roots, use liquid fertilizer.

Fertilizing through Wood Chips

For your lawn care, it is best to remove mulch from plants before fertilizing them with wood chips. This will give you the best results and the most fertilizer for your plants.

It may not always be possible to remove mulch from large gardens to apply fertilizer. The following is a list of things to remember if you have to fertilize with wood chips:

Avoid using granular fertilizer for your landscaping Conway SC. It can get stuck in mulch and won’t break down properly.

Add a liquid fertilizer to the top of the wood chips. After fertilizing, water to soak the fertilizer in the soil.

Make sure to read the instructions for your liquid fertilizer. You may be advised to increase the fertilizer in areas that are mulched.

Mulch Fertilizes the Ground and Soil

Mulch gradually fertilizes the ground by releasing their nutrients. Mulch is a thin layer that gradually turns into compost.

Mulchs can be broken down over time and added nutrients to the soil. This is usually a very good thing. Mulchs that have chemicals or acidic mulches, such as those made from commercial wood mulches, can potentially increase these properties. Be careful when selecting your mulch.

Mulch can increase Nitrogen in the soil?

Mulch does not reduce nitrogen in soil, so don’t believe it. This myth is totally false. This is completely false.

Mulch myths claim that mulches steal nitrogen. This myth is still commonly believed by gardeners who want to use mulch to encourage them to fertilize with more fertilizer. Mulch won’t rob nutrients from your soil. Mulch can absorb some liquid fertilizer, so it is best to remove mulch from your soil before fertilizing.

Is it possible to add compost to Mulch?

It is best to add compost or compost tea directly to your soil. This will give you the most effective and fastest results. There are certain cases when you can add compost to mulch.

For gardens that have less than 1/2 inch of mulch, you can add a layer of compost to the soil, and then cover it with new mulch.

Mulch that is more than 1/2 inch thick in gardens should be removed to make room for compost.

Applying compost on top of a thick mulch layer may not penetrate the soil to feed your plants. It can also become a breeding ground of weeds if left untreated.

Fertilizing on Top of Mulch

Apply fertilizer to mulch when it is less than 1/2 inch thick. Mulch-covered areas should be raked away so that your fertilizer can be applied directly to the soil.

Apply fertilizer to mulch. Water thoroughly after fertilizing. Granular fertilizers work better on top of mulch than those that are liquid.

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 For Winter Season

lawn careAlthough your lawn may not need that much care during the winter season as it does during fall, spring, and summer, you should never ignore it. Here are some lawn care tips you can take to make sure that your lawn is in good shape once spring comes.

Winter Lawn Care Tips
Aerate and Fertilize Your Lawn

Don’t forget to aerate and fertilize your lawn as part of your yard maintenance routine. Aerating your lawn allows it to breathe before the lawn grass becomes dormant, and assist in relieving any soil compaction that may have accumulated during the warmer season. After that, you have to fertilize your lawn to give the grass the nutrients it needs while preparing for winter. The grass roots absorb and keep the nutrients during winter. Then, during spring, your lawn will use these stored nutrients, allowing it to have head start, which makes it lush and green. By having a lawn that’s well taken care of, you will prevent diseases, pests, and weeds, from damaging your lawn.

Keep it Clean

If leaves have piled up on your lawn during the fall season, it will cause your lawn grass to suffocate. If you leave leaves on the lawn, they could become overly wet, which could lead to lawn disease. In case the leaves are not too wet or thick, you should mulch them using your mower into small pieces so the nutrients can be recycled back to the lawn. In case the leaves are too wet, matted down, or thick, you should rake and get rid of them. Don’t forget to get rid of lawn furniture and any debris from your lawn.

Avoid Too Much Lawn Traffic

If your lawn is dormant or frosted, don’t walk on the lawn too much. Even strong and healthy lawn grass could become weak when the same exact spots are walked on too many times.

Prepare Your Lawn While You Can

Finally, you have to make sure that your winter Conway SC lawn care plan has been set in place in advance. Once you feel the chill in the air, you should monitor the forecast and give yourself enough time to set up your plan before winter comes.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now and let our lawn care experts help you prepare your lawn for winter.

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

Should you mulch your yard in the fall?

mulchingIs mulching your plants alright in fall? To put it simply, the answer is yes. Mulching around autumn plants has many benefits. It can prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and protect them from temperature shifts and moisture loss. For fall mulching tips, keep reading.

Fall Mulching Tips for Plants

Autumn is a season of cooler temperatures and dry air in many areas. It is a highly recommended lawn care tip to cover perennials and cool-weather annuals with mulch if you want them healthy for the winter.

For introducing nutrients to the soil, organic mulches like pine needles and sawdust, straws, grass clippings, fallen leaves, and straw are all good options. Straw can be a problem if it is full of seeds. You can either buy weed-free straw, or compost it for one year.

Fall leaf mulch is great because it’s completely seedless and, if there are trees, free. Place your leaves several inches (8 cm) around your plants. You should plant the dead leaves at least 8 cm deep. Dead leaves are low in nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient to spring growth. For every cubic foot of leaf, apply 1 cup of nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

To avoid grass clippings becoming slimy, you should apply thin layers in multiple passes. If you have used herbicides on your lawn, don’t use grass clippings.

Mulching around Plants in Autumn

Fall doubles as a weed suppressant for your Conway yard maintenance. It will be great to have no weeds between the cabbages during the fall. However, it will also make spring a lot easier. Place 1/4 inch (0.5cm) of newspaper or weed barrier on the ground. Place newspaper stacks or a weed barrier where you don’t want any weeds. Cover it with 8 inches (20cm). Wood chips.

Mulching around plants in autumn can also help to maintain rich soil. You can also use a sheet made of strong plastic and filled with rocks to cover any bare areas. This will ensure that you have soil that is not eroded and warmer than the soil around it.

Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now if you need the help of a professional in taking care of your yard.

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