How Much Water Does My Lawn Need?

How much water do I need to properly water my lawn? Here are some pointers on how your grass will show you it needs watering.  

Firstly, broad leaf grasses tend to roll the leaves to conserve water. They do this to lessen the surface area exposed to the sun and heat. When grass starts appearing yellowish it is an early warning sign that the grass needs water .

On thinner leafed lawn grasses, there will be evidence of footprints long after the indentations were made. This is because the leaves are dry and becoming dehydrated.

Now how much water should you apply when watering? I don’t recommend short daily applications of water as all this does is dampen the top soil structure with little or no moisture penetrating to the deeper roots.

Deeper watering applications encourage the roots to grow deeper and enables the plant to get through drought conditions.

The rule of thumb is apply an inch or two of water per week in the higher heat periods and less in the cooler times. Be sure to watch the grasses growth patterns for signs of dehydration.

One last thing to keep in mind - You should never over water your lawn. This just leads to possible diseases and soggy patches in the lawn.

Is Good Lawn Maintenance Important?

How important is proper lawn maintenance for your home? Let’s think about that for a moment.

The experience of being home begins from the minute you see it from the street. The style of your home, the finishing touches, and the landscaping are what help the exterior feel like home to you.

So when they look beautiful, you feel good about your home. It’s hard to believe, but not everyone makes use of their outdoor living spaces. Why?

It could be because the plants are overgrown, dead, or dying. This makes the yard an unattractive place to be. If you want to reclaim your yard and get back the joy of spending time outdoors, what can you do?

Maybe you don’t have a lot of money to spend on lawn maintenance. What you can do is start getting some regular help from a landscaping professional. Doing things a little at a time won’t kill your budget.

Once you get started and see progress on reclaiming your lovely outdoor space, your house will start feeling like a home again.

Work with a reputable lawn maintenance company to create a lawn maintenance plan that is right for the size, layout, and plants already on your property.

If you have a completely blank slate, you will want to start by explaining what your overall goal is to a landscaping company. Over time your yard will start looking wonderful.

Then, once your yard is in order, you will have to be sure to keep it up on a weekly basis during the growing months and on a monthly basis in the dormant season.

Proper lawn maintenance provides the well-rounded care that the plants on your property will thrive on in the future. If you treat the plant life well it will produce a rich and colorful outdoor space for you to enjoy and be proud of for a long time to come.

Creating Your Ideal Outdoor Space

Did you know that creating your ideal outdoor space is just as important as making your indoor spaces homey?  Landscaping can be an exciting and creative project, bringing a new spin to your yard. Perhaps you've just bought a home with a nice back yard space, but it's just sitting there like a blank canvas in need of some serious lawn care.

Or maybe you've gotten tired of your former design and you're ready for something new. Either way, proper lawn care can improve not only the visual appeal of your yard, but also the value of your home.

With so many different designs to choose from it can be hard to decide what you want.  You can choose from Japanese, Chinese, modern, and classic designs. Do you want stepping stones or gravel walk ways, should you have water features?

There are so many choices; we can’t cover them all, so let’s talk about three ideas to help you get started on your lawn design.

1. The Country English Garden

For fans of Jane Austen, it won't be hard to be inspired by this classic form of garden. You'll want to spend hours reading beside the aromatic plants so commonly found in the classic English garden design.

At the time it was practical as well as pleasing to the eye. And today it can help add a sweet fragrance to your space. What types of herbs should you plant? Some ideas would be sage and lavender as both have strong, but very pleasing scents.

If you plant them near the door, you'll want to leave the door open and let the scent come in. The lavender will add not only scent but a splash of color to your country garden.

The English garden design offers you a infinite supply of romance and a place to enjoy your yard. These are just a couple features of the English country design.

2. The Tuscany

The rich, earthy tones of Tuscany designs are popular and work well in almost any environment. The lush design often features stonework or graveled off areas that could easily be used for entertaining. Adding things like creeping vines will give your yard a more rustic look. You can create your own private get away by using tall shrubs or a wall of grape vines to accentuate your space. Your yard care will be easy in this rustic getaway.

3. The Modern Garden

Modern gardens are full of clean lines, keeping things under control for very low lawn maintenance. It’s perfect for a modern lifestyle. This look is accented by walkways made of clean rectangular blocks spaced reasonably apart, and often emphasized by lots of lush greenery. Moss can be used between the walkway stones to make the gray pop and add contrast to the lines.

These are just three ideas for creating your ideal outdoor space. As I said before, there are limitless ways to design your area. Pick an overall style that suits you and your personal lifestyle and go from there.

The Benefits Of A Well-Maintained Lawn

There are several benefits of a well-maintained lawn. What brings more joy to the soul and calm to the mind as a personally designed, properly maintained lawn? A busy life brings constant sirens and noise, while a yard can be the oasis where you can escape to a feeling of country.

Imagine vibrant grass, colorful flowers, bringing you a peaceful, relaxing feeling. Good lawn maintenance can definitely make a world of difference in a home.

One of the most appealing aspects of a neighborhood are the beautiful lawns you see. Grassy areas bring a feeling of serenity and comfort to a neighborhood.

Curb appeal matters. If you are trying to sell a home, attractive landscaping can draw in potential buyers and increase the property value as well. People dream of having a lawn that the neighbors envy.

A lush, well-kept lawn can give the kids a safe area to play and you don't have to be worried about what they might get into. Grass can help reduce the shock of a fall and provide a cushion.

A huge benefit of having a well-maintained lawn is being able to relax with family and friends. Even in the sweltering summer heat a yard is much cooler than concrete or asphalt. 

Unfortunately, many people don’t have the knowledge or the time to put into yard work. So how do they reap the benefits of a well-maintained lawn? They hire a professional to do the work for them.

Many lawn care specialists will work very reasonably, often for much less than you would think. You might be pleasantly surprised when you call for estimates.

Find a good lawn care provider and start building your personal oasis today. 

Winterizing Your Lawn

The secret to a having a beautiful yard in the spring is to start planning for it ahead of time. Whether you are in a cold climate or a more temperate one, it's a good idea to take a few easy steps that will bring your grass back even greener and healthier than before.

Rake Your Leaves

If fall has left your yard covered up in pesky brown leaves, don't just leave them there -- rake them up. Leaving a heavy layer of leaves on your grass can keep it from getting the air and nutrients it needs and cause it to die However, a few leaves and clippings can actually break down into fertilizer as the winter goes on, giving your yard nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Mow One Last Time Then Aerate

Before putting the mower away for the season, give your yard one last mowing. Cut your grass a little shorter than you would ordinarily. Lengths longer than two inches could trap moisture and lead to diseases once spring comes along. When you've done the last mowing, the next lawn care step is to aerate the soil. By pulling small plugs of dirt out and allowing oxygen to reach the grass you will help your lawn ‘breathe’ better. Many lawn care companies can provide this service for a small fee.

Lawn Care Basics: Seed, Fertilize, Water

If you have sparse or bald spots in your yard, be sure to apply some grass seed after the lawn is aerated. This allows the seed to germinate in the cooler temperatures. This helps cut down the number of weeds that might grow with your new seed. After you've given your new seeds a chance to grow, apply a slow releasing fertilizer. Be sure to choose a formula that's specially designed for winterizing your yard. Fertilizing helps you be sure your yard receives nutrients through the cold winter season. After you apply it, give your yard one last good drink: the water will activate the fertilizer.

Use A Professional For Lawn Pest Control

The type of pests can vary widely depending on where you live, so it's a good idea to contact a professional for lawn pest control. Whether you're faced with grubs or other pests, a lawn care company will know what to do to get rid of them, but still leave friendly creatures like earthworms alone.

Check Your Sprinklers

Do you have an underground sprinkler system? Be sure to check and make sure it's been drained properly. This is especially important if you're in a part of the country that freezes. Water that's left in the buried lines will expand when it freezes. This could cause the pipes to burst, shooting water all over your yard and getting you a big repair bill.

Properly preparing for the winter will go a long way towards having a healthy yard in the spring. Use these few simple steps and you'll be looking at lush, green grass when spring gets here.

Lawn Care Services

There are several lawn care services available to you from many local lawn care companies. These services can include simple and routine weekly grass cutting, up to more involved services such as fertilizing, aerating, or possibly even specialty functions like pH balancing, weed control, and applications to control beetles or white grubs. If it has to do with lawn care there is a company that can take care of your lawn for you.

Most lawn care specialists will provide grass cutting service. This might include a weekly going over with a push or riding mower depending on how big your lawn is, or it could include a trim with a string trimmer around the edges to give it that extra touch. It could be a good time to get your shrubs and hedges trimmed with as well.

Applications of fertilizer occur 4 times in a year: spring, early summer, summer, and fall. Your lawn care professional will help you with these lawn care services too if needed.

Aeration is a great way to start or finish off your growing season. This will be of great benefit to your lawn and help you keep it looking its best. If you are thinking of having your lawn rolled to eliminate high and low spots there is no better time than in the spring so it is ready to go after the winter season.

Decide what lawn care services you will do yourself and which you will hire a lawn care company for. Then work with them to develop a plan for keeping your yard lush and inviting.