Questions About Lawncare
Lawncare Quick Jump
- What are some good mowing tips?
- What are some good watering tips?
- Why does my lawn turn brown in the summer?
- What do the numbers mean in a fertilizer analysis?
- Can I mow after you fertilize?
- It rained after you sprayed, is that o.k.?
- How long should the dog and kids stay off the lawn after you spray?
- I have weeds on the edges of my lawn, did you miss that spot?
What are some good mowing tips?
Leaving the clippings on your lawn is generally a good idea as it will add organic matter to the soil. You should not cut off more than a third of the blade of grass when you mow. Mow long grass too short and you will stress your lawn. An excessive amount of dead cut grass left on the lawn after you mow is not good, in which case bagging or raking would be a good idea. Always use a sharp blade because a dull blade tears the grass, stressing it and turning the tip brown. Don’t mow your lawn too short. Mow shorter in Spring and Fall, but in the summer mow at least 3- 4 inches tall. It is also a good idea to mow in different directions. Mulching leaves in the Fall is a great way to add nutrients to your soil. Clean up your lawn in the Fall instead of waiting until Spring.
What are some good watering tips?
If we get rain at least once a week, there is no need to provide additional water unless you are establishing new plants or grass. Water deeply but infrequently. Water slowly to avoid runoff. It is best to water in the morning when it is cool. Stimulate deep extensive root systems by loosening soil through core aeration or adding organic matter.
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Why does my lawn turn brown in the summer?
The grasses which make up our local turf are cool season grasses. They naturally go dormant in the summer when it is dry, and they will green back up when regular rainfall returns. The only way to kill a lawn is to water it frequently and shallowly, encouraging a shallow root system, and then stop watering. If the root system is too shallow, the stressed turf may actually die rather than enter its normal dormancy period.
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Core aeration is best when done in Spring, late Summer or Fall. It is also best when soil has moisture and is not as hard. When you bring soil to the surface, there is a chance to bring with it weed seed from the existing seed bank in your soil, therefore in the Spring this could result in weed seed germination. Not a real problem if you are following up with a herbicide application in the future. By Late Summer or Fall this is not a worry. Late Summer or Fall is also a great time to overseed as there will be less competition from weeds. Keep in mind, it is never a bad idea to core aerate, and your lawns needs should determine when and how often. A sodded lawn is always a good candidate for core aeration. There is a need to break down the peat layer in sod, and to encourage water and roots to break through to the soil beneath, especially in clay soils. A Stronger Root system will help your lawn through the stresses of a dry Summer.
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What do the numbers mean in a fertilizer analysis?
The 3 numbers on a bag of fertilizer are called it’s analysis. Simply put they represent the percentage of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) available. For example, a garden fertilizer 10-10-10 contains 10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus, and 10% Potassium. This adds up to 30%. The other 70% would then be filler material, commonly urea. The filler material allows for uniform application of the nutrients. Currently in the State of Minnesota, it is against the law to apply Phosphorus to lawns unless you have a soil test to support the application or if you are establishing a new lawn. A fourth number may sometimes appear in a PLS custom fertilizer mix (ex. 29-0-14-6) to indicate a secondary nutrient such as sulfur.
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Can I mow after you fertilize?
Mowing should not affect the granular fertilizer, but do not bag the grass. A rain or watering will help bring the fertilizer into the soil.
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It is best to wait a day or so but really depends on the height of your grass and at what height you will be mowing. It would be best not to bag and you would not want to completely cut off the leaf of the weeds being targeted. A rain or watering will help bring the product through the plant.
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It rained after you sprayed, is that o.k.?
Generally, a half hour or less is all that is needed with most herbicides. About as long as it takes to be dry to the touch. Rain or watering generally helps to bring the product through the plant, speeding up the process. If you are concerned, please feel free to contact us.
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How long should the dog and kids stay off the lawn after you spray?
Certainly at least until the next day. A rain or watering will help bring the product through the plant. Some people are more sensitive than others. The # 1 way to be exposed is through your skin, mainly your hands. Make sure the kids are not directly playing or rolling around in the grass after we spray. The dog can go out, but make sure its not eating the grass.
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I have weeds on the edges of my lawn, did you miss that spot?
Our experienced applicators perform a “blanket” coverage of your lawn and pay special attention to the edges near the curb, driveway, and sidewalk when we spray for weeds. Weeds typically out perform cool season grass in these areas because they are exposed to extreme heat and have poor subsoil. When your curb, driveway, and sidewalk are installed, many times the leftover gravel, rock and concrete are not cleaned up, leaving poor growing conditions. These areas can also accumulate salt, sand and rocks from the roadway. Weed seeds can often collect on the edges and due to a lack of competition and warm soil conditions they can grow abundantly.
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Questions About Organic Alternatives
Organic Alternatives Quick Jump
- What are some Organic alternatives for my lawn?
- Why not use organic Fertilizer instead of conventional Fertilizer?
What are some Organic alternatives for my lawn?
Feed your soil. Add compost or other organic matter to help loosen your soil. Leave clippings on the lawn to add nitrogen. Fertilize with an Organic Fertilizer. Aerate and overseed. A thick turf is a great way to prevent weeds. Mow high (3 to 4 inches) to shade the roots and help conserve moisture. Water less often, but for longer periods of time (take into consideration the type of soil you have). When it comes to weeds, tolerate them or pull them by hand (not very effective). If weeds are established, the only effective control is a PLS broadleaf herbicide application (not organic). It should be understood that a true organic lawn is much more than a one time organic fertilizer application. It requires an understanding of your soil, developing a plan to follow through with, hard work, and can be more expensive than traditional lawn care.
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Why not use organic Fertilizer instead of conventional Fertilizer?
Generally, conventional synthetic fertilizers are used because you are able to customize them, they are quicker to act, are more readily available, and are relatively less expensive. Organic means that the nutrients are derived from the remains or by-products of a once living organism. Most are sold as soil conditioners. Bone meal, manure and corn-gluten meal are examples of organic fertilizers. Most often organic fertilizers are high in one of the three major nutrients and very low in the other two. Many are low in all three. Corn gluten meal, for example, provides only Nitrogen and needs to be applied at a rate of 20 pounds per 1000 square feet. That is 3 to 4 times the amount of conventional synthetic fertilizer (and all you are getting is a little Nitrogen). Organic fertilizers can also be very slow to release their nutrients because they need soil organisms to be active in the soil to break them down, so they may not be able to give the plant what it needs for optimum growth. Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured from inorganic materials.
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