Jason's Blog

Lawn Care: Winter Lawn seeding technique

  

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Lawn Care:  Winter Lawn seeding technique

Are you unhappy with the thickness of your lawn?  Did you miss the opportunity to over-seed this past winter? 

I am going to personally try this technique this year.  My dog has been very detrimental to the success of my back lawn.  She is an energetic black lab that becomes obsessed with retrieving her tennis ball.  How can I resist?  She is getting great exercise and I enjoy watching her instincts take over.  She will run full speed and then throw on the breaks ripping up turf the whole time as she reacts to the bouncing ball.

Here’s the idea.  As winter sets in spread grass seed heavily (make sure you are matching the seed type to your site conditions Click here for seed types) over the existing turf you wish to thicken up.  As the ground freezes and thaws over the next few months the seed becomes embedded into the soil.  As temperatures rise in the spring the seed is already sown, right? 

Here are some potential benefits. 

• Grass starts growing before the need to apply pre-emergent crabgrass control which would nullify any post seeding activities.

• You do not need to worry about timing.  The seed will already be embedded as weather turns and soil temperatures rise.

• Getting some early sowing will help the grass achieve some better root depth and density before the onset of summer.

Potential downfalls

• Seed stays to wet over the long winter months and simply rots out.

• Seed continually gets wet and dry killing the seed.

• Soil does not thaw and soil never embeds itself.

My feeling is that seed is pretty inexpensive and it is worth the effort.  Any opportunity to thicken the turf will save you money in the long run on trying to eradicate un-desirables plants such as crabgrass…..

Please comment with your experience, questions or thoughts!

Jason

Landscape Service; Mulching: Can you give me 5 reasons why we do it?

  

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Mulching: Can you give me 5 reasons why Landscape management professionals do it?

I was pondering early this morning about my latest blog Idea. I was thinking of innovative ways to train the men on the importance behind the services we provide, or why we do what we do. Giving them this education helps everyone involved. I realized that I do have an informal way of training by quizzing them from time to time.

Each year as the spring season brings about all of natures wonders our Landscape crews gear up to prepare your landscapes for the upcoming months. Mulching is one of our signature landscape services that are in high demand that time of year. I’ll annually quiz my crew members each year when we begin the bulk of our residential landscape bed/garden mulching.

Typically I will ask them to give me 5 reasons why we visit these homes every spring and Mulch their gardens.

Here are the answers I am looking for.

1. Suppresses unwanted vegetation
2. Insulates the soil and root zones of the plants for the winter
3. Aesthetics
4. Maintains soil moisture
5. Keeps the soil cooler during the summer months

When we understand the importance of what we do… our job becomes more than just a job.
Jason

North Attleboro Landscaper: Fall Clean ups

  

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Just a quick post to show some photos of the men working hard to get up all the leaves.  We have been fortunate as the weather has cooperated nicely. This a magical service.  The properties are literally covered with debris and within a few hours it is emaculate.  As a North Attleboro Landscaper we have to wait until the week before Thanksgiving to get going on full clean ups as the oaks, beech leaves are still hanging on.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  

Landscaping Lesson?; Are you sleepwalking through life?

  

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Are We Sleepwalking Through Life?

As I reflect back on GIE (Green industry Conference) where hundreds of Professional Landscape Service providers took 3-4 days out of their busy lives to meet and discuss ways to improve their businesses.  This annual conference which is laden with educational sessions and networking opportunities is held in Louisville, Kentucky.  These professionals believe in their industry/professionalism and are committed to sharing what they know with other members.  I have been fortunate enough to attend this conference many times over the years and was happy to be in attendance this past October.

I am writing about this year conference because I took away something that is uncommon for one of these educational events.  As I walked through the airport and towards my gate with my mind consumed with the events of the near past and future I noticed a Landscape Friend whom I have chatted with in the past.  Jason Cupp is a very respect member of the Green Industry.  I stopped to wish him well on his travels when he asked me “So what was the most important thing you learned over the past few days?”  You would expect that I learned of a new system to create efficiencies that help the crews save time, or a new piece of equipment that will save hundreds on fuel costs.  A conference of this magnitude gets you feeling so good and confident that when you return home you have this burning desire to become the largest landscape company in the world.  This year, for me I took away something much different.  I realized that my business is not a failure for not blowing sales numbers out of the roof.  I realized that I am so consumed with tomorrow and the sales of tomorrow that I am not getting my best out of today.  I work so hard at creating efficient ways to do everything that we literally skip pass the events of the present. I realized I am sleepwalking through life, with my mind on my next step, instead of on the step I am taking.

This particular presentation by Param Srikantia, Ph.D., of Baldwin-Wallace College was very engaging and down-right funny.  The talk was; Are we sleepwalking through life?  I could honestly answer this question with a very punctual, YES!  I am and have been consumed with the future.  As we moved toward the holiday season I wanted to spread my new revelation to all and encourage us to enjoy the now as we sit down to thanksgiving dinner or spend time with friends.

Jason

Landscape Management; Start thinking Landscape Improvements for next year

  

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Are you enjoying the fall? The crisp air, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. It's magnificent. And potentially very productive for anyone thinking about major landscape improvements in the coming year or even securing a professional Landscape company to maintain your property.

Fall and winter are a great time to consider what landscape improvements you'd like to make during next year's growing season. If you don't already have one, start a landscaping journal and reflect on what worked, what didn't, and what you'd like to change once spring rolls back around.  You can even make a checklist of some of your outstanding fall chores, and set goals for what you hope to accomplish in the future.

For example, you may have noticed some drainage issues this year in certain parts of the yard. Do a quick assessment, and sketch out in your journal where the biggest problems occurred. Then list what fixes you'd like to attempt in the coming year.  Getting your thoughts in order now will save you time in the spring when you're ready to get underway.

If you have trees in desperate need of pruning, use your journal to record which ones are a priority, as well as the names of some arborists to contact for an estimate. A word to the wise: arborists tend to work year-round and might even give you a seasonal discount! No need to wait for spring to complete this important task.

It has been a difficult season on Landscapes in the Northeast, and as a Landscape Company in North Attleboro, Ma we have had to work with Tree and water damage from Tropical storm Irene and then an early snowfall in October which has been detrimental to our trees.

For many of us, lawn care is an ongoing battle. Take this seasonal break from weeds and grubs to give some thought to what went wrong with your grass. Create a list in your journal of the various products you tried this season—the good and the bad. Do some research online or at your local nursery to uncover alternatives for next year.  If you've given up all together and are ready to turn everything over to the pros, use your journal to keep track of contractors and their contact information in your journal. 

The point of all this, however, isn't whether or not you use an actual journal to record your thoughts and plans for the next growing season.  The method you choose to get your landscaping improvement projects in order is unimportant. What is important is that you start now. With a little advance preparation, you'll be able to complete next year's landscape improvements more quickly and with less hassle. 

And who doesn't like the sound of that?

If you think this is interesting,  we like Blue Dot Landscaping's blog.

landscaping ideas; 6 Tips preparing your Landscape for Winter

  

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6 Tips for preparing your Landscape for Winter

When the weather starts to cool and signs of summer start to disappear: house windows locked shut, farm stands closed for season, outside community events are discontinued and actual signs, too, like an early snowfall.

 The rapid approach of winter forces us to think quickly as we put our landscape to bed for the next few months.  Here are landscaping Ideas and a checklist that you can use to prepare:

1. Cut perennials back to soil level and remove debris to the compost pile.

2. Consider splitting perennials that have begun to overgrow their placement

3. Remove annual plantings in the landscape.

4. Add a layer of mulch or organic matter to plantings to help conserve moisture and protect the root systems, especially for new plantings.

5. Give you lawn a nice tight haircut to 2.5”.

6. Removing debris such as leaves and other dead plant material from the landscape will prevent the spread of certain fungi that can infect new leaf tissue during the following spring. Removing the unwanted debris will also eliminate nesting areas for critters.

   

7. You may want to consider leaving ornamental grasses and interesting perennials such as: coneflower, black-eyed susan and sedum in the landscape over the winter months. Not only do they add structure and interest to the winter landscape.  

Did you know?  Poison ivy berries are a very important food source for overwintering birds!  Consequently, they can also spread the plant this way.

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Lawn Mowing Techniques: Mulching vs. Bagging

  

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Lawn Mowing Techniques:  Mulching vs. Bagging

It is common knowledge that the Northeast is the only part of the country that bags grass clippings and this North Attleboro Lawn mowing company is no different.

It's the classic debate when it comes to lawn care. Do you mulch your lawn grass clippings or bag them?  Ask just about any professional and you'll receive a variety of answers and reasons for each person's choice. Each option comes with advantages and disadvantages you should consider. Some weeks you might want to mulch and some weeks you might want to bag. Let's look at the two options. 

Mulching
Lawn mowers on the market today make mulching your grass clippings much easier than it used to be. A good mulching lawn mower will cut your grass clippings into small enough pieces to benefit your yard without causing problems. Allowing the grass clippings to sit on the lawn helps the grass retain moisture and puts valuable nutrients into the soil! 

Mulching is considered a "green" option as well because you aren't putting valuable organic material into the landfill. In fact, many cities prohibit dumping grass clippings with the trash.

Bagging
Bagging your lawn clippings didn't really become popular until the development of gas-powered mowers with bag attachments came along. These mowers often produced larger clippings that didn't settle as easily into the lawn but rested on top of the lawn instead often resulting in poor aesthetics and excessive clean up.  Bagging clippings will fully prevent the development of this lawn problem. 

Raking and bagging clippings from time to time especially in wetter months can be beneficial in the Northeast to avoid poor quality cut. You may also want to bag if you have an older lawn mower. 

So, there is no right answer in the great grass clipping debate. Choose the method that works best for your life and your lawn or feel free to stay neutral and do both. Happy mowing!

Please comment and share your technique!

Fall Lawn care Tips

  

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Just because the summer heat and sunshine is rapidly decreasing does not mean that your lawn's beauty should as well.  Practicing proper lawn care, you can maintain a healthy, vibrant lawn well into October.  During the cooler months of fall and winter, grass goes into a dormant stage.  During this time, the plant focuses on maintaining a healthy root base so that it can come back stronger and greener during the next growing season.  By nurturing your lawn and providing essential nutrients, you can encourage spring success even when it is covered in snow.

     Lawns with plenty of trees get plenty of leaves in the fall.  This leads to constant raking and bagging or mulching.  If you plan to naturally fertilize your lawn as part of your fall lawn care regimen,  using a mulching lawn mower not only provides natural fertilizer for your lawn, but cuts down on the hassle of raking, and disposing of leaves.  By making sure that your grass roots remain strong through the cold winter months, your lawn will bounce back greener and faster as soon as the weather warms up again.

     Many households feel that once the grass has turned brown, that they no longer need to keep up with their yard work.  For those that continue landscaping year round, fall lawn care allows them to adapt their lawn to match the changing seasons.  Take the time during these months to place out decorations for the fall, either ones celebrating the Halloween holiday or a general theme of harvesting and preparation for the oncoming lean months.  This yard work also allows you to get your property winterized.  Bundle up hoses for storage, collect and store tools and fragile plants or take care of any lingering summer projects.  The fall weather may not be perfect for growing and nurturing plant life, but that does not mean you cannot have a beautiful lawn.

Lawn Care; When is the best time to lime your lawn?

  

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When to Lime your lawn:

Fall marks the calendar time when you transition from maintaining your lawn to preparing for the next grass growing season. One consideration in this season is the health of the soil your grass grows in. Lawns grow best when the soil has a neutral pH level, not testing either acidic or alkaline. The pH level shows how many nutrients are in the soil and soil tends to grow acidic over time. Acidity is caused by different factors including overuse of nitrogen based fertilizers, use of compost or if the rainwater has sulphur in it.


 The appearance of your lawn is not the determining factor for lime application, a test for the pH level of your soil is. Using either a home testing kit or having your soil tested by the local extension service is how you determine pH level. Generally it is best to take samples from several different areas of your lawn. When the test shows a pH level less than 5.5%, a lime application is indicated.


 When to lime your lawn is determined by several factors.  Fall is the recommended time because the lime application treats your soil, not your grass. You are preparing for more optimal conditions for grass growth in the next season and lime can burn growing grass so you want to apply it as the growing season comes to a close.

 The application of lime should not be done when you are treating your lawn for anything else so when to lime your lawn normally occurs in the fall. During the fall you will not be doing a fertilizer application or using herbicides and the combination of those applications with lime could make your lawn problems worse instead of improving them.


 Residents of parts of the country experiencing very cold winters know that when to lime your lawn is before first frost. This is true because the cycle of freezing and thawing assists the lime's penetration of the soil. Do not apply lime when the soil is very wet, however, as it makes the lime hard to spread.


 There are several types of lime. One is a compound of just calcium (calcic) and the other is a compound of calcium and magnesium (dolomitic). Your soil pH test determin

es type used and how much is applied. It comes in powder or pellet form, should be spread evenly and hosed down following application, to help soil penetration.

3 Things to know about Lawn Aeration and Over-seeding:

  

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3 Things to know about Aeration and Over-seeding:

1. 1.       Why do we aerate and over-seed lawns?

• Aeration is great for the lawn

• Great renovation technique

• It promotes oxygen to the root zone

• Breaks up the thatch layer for increased nutrient and water exchange

• Relieves compacted soils

• Over-seeding Introduces new grass varieties to the lawn

• Thickens up lawns to crowd out weeds and help control erosion

1. 2.       When do we aerate and over-seed lawns?        

• In September, this month has historically great grass growing temperatures and cool nights

• When the grass is gathering momentum into the fall growing season

1. 3.       How do we aerate and over-seed??

• With a piece of equipment called a core-aerator

• The machine mechanically pulls cores from the soil

• We then over-seed the lawn heavily followed by an organic fertilizing

• If the lawn is in GREAT need of repair and the soil is depleted we accompany this service with a top-dressing of compost to add rich organic matter and nutrients to the soil.

Whether we have had a tough year with drought, significant amount of rain or a normal season we recommend aeration and over-seeding.   This maintenance practice should be incorporated into all lawn care programs to lessen the need for chemical interference by continuing to thicken up the lawn to crowd out weeds.  A thick healthy lawn is the best defense against pests, disease or weeds.