The Right Way to Water the Lawn

We want you to experience the greenest and healthiest lawn possible so that you can enjoy your time outdoors in West Springfield, MA. When it comes to lawn maintenance we can provide some suggestions for getting the most out of watering your lawn so that you see results and can maximize the efficiency of such maintenance processes such as core aeration, fertilization and landscaping. Perhaps the first question to ask is how much water is necessary to have a thriving lawn? The general rule for succeeding in watering is give your lawn approximately two inches of water per week during the crucial months; as you approach the fall when the lawn begins its dormancy for the winter it’ll need less water. Two inches of water is ideal because feeding this amount of water into the soil promotes a solid root structure for the lawn. If you don’t get enough water into the soil or you water just a little bit every day then this could create a shallow root system which isn’t ideal for maintaining a healthy lawn. Too much water or watering every day can actually create a breeding ground for pests and insects which not only can be a bummer on your summer months but these pests can damage your lawn and the surrounding landscaping. It’s actually healthy for your lawn to be dry between watering too because roots will grow downward to seek more moisture which makes the lawn stronger. There are two ways a lawn can be watered. The cheapest and easiest method is not always the most predictable – rain. Obviously this is the simplest method to water the lawn but can also be unreliable which is why we install sprinklers in our yards or water it via hose attachments. How much water is two inches? You can place a few small containers in the yard and see when they fill up to two inches or there are soil sample kits available for a more scientific approach to ensuring you get to two inches. A sprinkler system will be the easiest way to monitor the amount of water that your lawn is getting and you’ll be able to turn it off when raining – this could save money too! We recommend core aeration to help maximize results in West Springfield, MA. If you notice spots where your lawn is pooling then this means that the water isn’t properly reaching the roots. What core aeration does is control thatch, improve soil structure, create growth pockets so newer roots can take hold, manage disease and create pathways for water and fertilizer to reach the roots. On top of all these benefits for maintaining a thriving, lush and green lawn, core aeration allows more water to reach the roots before evaporating which translates into less water usage and, therefore, lower water bills! We recommend watering the lawn very early in the morning so that the water has time to soak in during the morning hours and dry out by mid-afternoon creating the perfect balance for watering. While the two inch rule is a solid guideline, some lawns may require a different approach.

December 18, 2016

Keeping the Lawn Green During Dry Conditions

Whether the summer brings a week of dry conditions or there is a harsher event like a drought, there are still things that we can offer in order to help keep your lawn looking green and ensuring that it stays healthy. A week of consistently dry and hot weather can evaporate a significant amount of moisture from the lawn and do considerable damage before the next storm comes through. In fact, there are times when really dry conditions can upset the lawn for the duration of the summer making it very difficult, if not impossible, for it to come back to normal. We can offer the following tips so your lawn remains as lush, green and healthy as possible in West Springfield, MA. Core aeration is a procedure we recommend that can be a valuable investment even when there aren’t dry conditions. When you combine this process with removing thatch from the lawn, you can help the roots get some much needed moisture. Dethatching will remove the grass clippings and thatch that can plague a lawn even in non-drought conditions. Aeration will create pathways to the roots so it can receive water. With these two important maintenance projects completed, even the smallest amounts of moisture can reach the roots and help the lawn continue to thrive. One of the things we’ve learned with the infamous California drought is the benefit of collecting rain. In extremely dry conditions, water may be limited so digging a reservoir or trough around some of the landscaping will allow water to collect when it does rain, or when you can water the lawn, so your trees and bushes have access to water for a little longer. There are also ways to collect water in barrels that can then be used to water when needed; be aware of pooling water though because it can attract mosquitos. There are two preventative ways to help out your lawn during dry times. One is to avoid walking too much on the grass. While this may seem odd, whenever we walk, play or run around on our grass it causes stress to the lawn. Although this isn’t normally an issue, during periods of sustained dry conditions, this added stress can hurt the integrity of the grass. The second preventative measure is to consider planting drought-resistant plants. This is a good way to use less water in general even if there is no drought in place. Drought-resistant plants will need less water which translates to spending less money on utilities. Hopefully these dry conditions are sporadic and won’t last very long but once the rain returns it’s best to properly maintain your lawn to help it stay green. Don’t over-water the lawn because this could lead to further issues such as shorter roots; fertilizing the lawn may help increase the amount of nutrients that the lawn receives and therefore make it as healthy as it was before.

November 18, 2016

How to Win the Battle Against Weeds

Fighting weeds can be a daunting and difficult struggle but there’s no reason to give up and let the weeds succeed. If you’re ready to fight for the grass in your yard in West Springfield, MA, following are a few suggestions to make sure that you’re working smarter instead of harder against ridding the yard of weeds. The first thing you should know is that not all weeds are equal so you may need to approach the battle in a few different ways. If you’re looking to get a little dirty and pull the weeds out yourself, there are few ways to make the process easier while achieving maximum results. Pulling weeds after it rains or after you water the lawn is the best time. The reason why is because the soil is obviously wetter which provides a little more give. You’ll expel less energy and be able to yank that weed right from the root. Another way to ensure that you’re fighting a good fight against weeds properly is to not mow your lawn too short. Grass that’s left a little longer will better block the vegetation underneath while securing a stronger root hold for the grass itself. If moisture and nutrients can’t reach the weeds, it won’t grow – a shorter lawn provides an easier path for water and fertilizers to get to the weeds. Persistence is also key to combatting weeds because the war can be a long one. Spending an entire day removing weeds won’t mean that they are gone for good. Keep an eye on your lawn and take care of the weeds that you may see extending out from the soil. Strange growth patterns in your lawn may also be an indicator that there are weeds trying to push through. A few of the famous weeds that may appear like broadleaf weeds which look like little clover leaves or ivy popping up from the ground or crabgrass may be best treated at different times of the year. Broadleaf weeds, for instance, can be spot-treated whereas fighting crabgrass begins at the beginning of spring with a product often referred to as a “weed-and-feed” which can kill crabgrass while promoting grass growth. A good lawn care company can offer a comprehensive lawn maintenance plan so that your yard remains lush and green keeping weed growth to a minimum. There are also sprays and treatments available that you can use on your own; just make sure to read the instructions. Identifying the type of weed you have may be needed to purchase the right weed-killer from the store. A possible side effect from using store-bought weed killer is that it may harm your grass since some sprays are pretty much a blanket approach to kill plants in general – these are often the best option when weeds sprout up from the cracks of a driveway.

October 19, 2016