Lawn Care Services
Lawn maintenance is a hobby for many people, although it can be a tough task and a burden for others who do not enjoy manual activities many times under harsh weather conditions outdoors. However, we all like attractive front gardens as they enhance the look of properties. We also like having a nice back garden to enjoy green spaces at home.
Care and maintenance of the lawn require both attention and dedication. Each task has its secrets and techniques. First, what is the difference between lawn care and lawn maintenance? Although both terms refer to the monitoring of the lawn and vegetation that surround a property, there are some differences between lawn maintenance and lawn care.
Lawn maintenance is a set of activities that help keep the lawn and outdoors clean throughout the year. It involves preparing it for every season (prepare for spring, clear winter debris, summer lawn mowing, clean-up of yard before winter). Usually, it includes weekly lawn mowing, watering and weeding, border edging, clean up, and removal.
On the other hand, lawn care is about keeping the garden healthy, colorful, and vital throughout the years. It can involve other lawn services like pest and weed control, fertilization, soil testing, seeding, and irrigation, among others.
Is it worth paying for lawn care?
Paying for lawn care services is worth it because you are going to have better results than if you do it yourself and you can get a guarantee for the work done.
A company will provide professional work avoiding a waste of time and effort. Very often, what starts being an easy task, gets more and more complex and you realize how much skill and time is actually involved in the task.
Trained technicians will check the status of your lawn and will make a diagnosis and will provide solutions to your problems helping save money in the long term. They will work with materials specifically made for that purpose increasing efficiency and effectiveness, but also safety. They will also protect the environment, people, and pets.
How much does monthly lawn care cost?
Lawn care costs between $100-$500 depending on the type, number, and frequency of service required. On a monthly basis, it ranges from $100 to $200. For more complex projects like restoration or lawn replacement, they can charge over $2,000. If you just need lawn mowing service and upkeep, the cost varies between $49 and $219. On average, homeowners in the US pay $133.
The rate depends on the type of treatments your grass needs, ranging from mowing to aeration. Landscaping companies make a more aesthetic job. Your lawn plays a crucial role in your home appeal, so proper service is important to avoid patches, browning, and pests or plant diseases.
How many lawn treatments do I really need?
There are five basic lawn treatments you need to consider and they are all related to the season of the year. If you are looking for providers, always start searching “lawn care services near me” as they will be ready to assist you when you need them.
Midwinter: Treatment includes the application of winter feed, which is composed of iron that will help your grass gain a bright green color and burn moss. If moss is a problem in your garden, you can have the trees pruned so they can allow more light into the lawn discouraging moss.- Spring: Warm weather favors greater grass growth but winter rain may have washed important nutrients out of the soil. Some fertilizer will be useful for the recovery. Also, a lawn care company can use professional herbicides to attack weeds that grow fast in this season.
- Early summer: The lawn grows fast in this part of the year and regular mowing will keep it tidy and encourage growth. A second dose of herbicide is advisable to treat weeds, and the second dose of soil nutrients will help the grass be healthier.
- Late summer: Depending on the weather, the grass can slow down its growth but roots are getting ready for winter frosts. You can apply seaweed tonic to help it recover from summer stress. A general fertilizer is also advisable so the and herbicide to prevent weeds from growing.
- Autumn: Grass grows slowly and it can attract soil microbes to the roots. It is a good time for some lawn feed.
What is the best lawn care service?
There are many lawn care service providers in the US. According to the homeowners’ reviews, the website ConsumerAfairs.com proposes some of the most voted ones:
- Home Advisor
- Lawn America
- TruGreen Lawn Care
- Massey Services
- Gibbs Landscape
- Green Lawn Fertilizing
But, these are large companies that may not really know the local area or give you the dedicated customer service you deserve. For quality service and 100% satisfaction guaranteed, call Belton’s Professional Lawn Care & Landscaping at 919-358-7426 today.
How often should you cut your grass?
The grass cut frequency depends on the season. During spring and autumn, it is advisable to do it once a week. Weekly mowing is not too often and it allows it to grow back. In summer, it grows faster requiring a cut twice a week.
Lastly, in winter, you can cut it when you think it is necessary, when you see it too long or until it reaches the maximum height that your lawnmower can support. Frequent mowing is not necessary or even advisable.
Does frequent mowing thicken grass?
Some experts recommend that the grass shouldn’t be shorter than 2 inches. A too high frequency can favor unhealthy growth patterns as the grass must share energy resources between the roots and the foliage and thus concentrating on blade development only.
Frequent mowing will not only be unhelpful to thicken the grass, but it will cause the roots to become shallow and ineffective for the absorption of nutrients and moisture. Also, it can turn the leaves into a brown, patchy appearance.
Is raking bad for your lawn?
Raking and bagging are not recommended by grass experts. Going over with a lawnmower from time to time is more than enough. Consider that organic matter that composes the leaves is good for the soil adding good nutrients that help the grass grow better. Mulching is a better idea than bag grass.
So, if you wonder “Should I leave grass clippings on lawn?” think that not only it is unnecessary but also it can be counterproductive for the lawn’s health. The clippings work as fertilizer and help the soil retain water for healthier root growth.
How can I thicken my lawn?
There are some tips to thicken your lawn:
- Water enough during summer so it receives at least 1 inch of water per week. Doing it in the morning reduces water loss from evaporation.
- Trim thick vegetation and trees that shade the lawn so it can have more exposure to sunlight.
- Spread some grass seed over the existing lawn. You need to check the type of grass that better fits the climate zone and soil type.
- Mow the grass with the frequency required according to the season. This will prepare it for over seeding and help in the germination process by improving the sun exposure.
- Use fertilizers following the package instructions.
What are the benefits of mulching?
Mulching means covering the soil with a layer of material that can be both organic -such as ceder mulch- or inorganic. This practice benefits the soil by retaining moisture, suppressing weeds, keeping it cool, preventing frost in winter, and by making the garden look better. Organic mulches help improve the structure and drainage of the soil, as well as keep its nutrient-holding capacity high.
Some of the purposes of mulching are to reduce the weed growth and the water loss from the surface. It helps moderate the temperature, keeping the soil warmer on cold weather and cooler on hot days.
But What is the best mulch? Not every type of lawn and environment requires the same kind of mulch. They have different functionalities but everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Thereby, the best mulch for flower beds is compost, which is composed of organic materials. Made of discarded waste from your kitchen, it enriches the soil while it gets decomposed.
When should I mulch my garden?
The best time to put down mulch is mid- to late spring. In this time of the year, weed s have not yet germinated, while herbaceous plants are latent. You can also mulch in autumn, where plants are dying. It can be applied around beds and specimen plants. New plants can be mulched anytime because they will benefit from moisture retention and weed suppression.
It is not necessary to remove the old mulch as it gradually breaks down adding nutrients that are good for the soil, together with other organic matter. Mulch removal is a hard word and it is not justified.
So, you don’t need to replace it every year but just add a new one. At the beginning of the spring, you can check how much is still left from the previous year, and from there you can determine the amount of new product you need to add.
Do mulching mowers really work?
Mulching mowers may be a good ally to maintain healthy and colorful grass. It helps re-circulate and re-cut grass clippings under the mowing deck and this way it produces fine mulch. When it decomposes, it put nutrients back into the soil. If you have a small yard, a mulching mower may not be really necessary but if your garden is big, you may consider buying one.
If you already have a mulcher, a frequent issue is that grass clipping clumps together. This can happen because the grass is too wet. Heavy mowers can sink into the grass and whip up moisture while cutting the grass. Another reason is that the grass is too long or that the mower isn’t in good condition.
What is the disadvantage of mulching?
If you do extra mulching (+3 inches), plants can be buried and suffocated preventing water and oxygen from reaching the roots. It must be at least 6 inches away from trunks and shrubs. If you ask if should mulch be put around trees, consider that excessive mulch on the trunk can create a good place for insects, diseases, and even decay.
Remember that mulch near plants is a good place for snails, slugs, tunneling rodents, and pests. Spreading some wood ashes is a good solution to this problem. Another disadvantage of mulching is that it can bake plants with excess heat if it is not done properly.
What should I put down before mulching?
To avoid mulching from being counterproductive, you have to do it correctly. There are some steps you can follow to prepare the lawn.
- Kill weeds.
- Trim trees and bushes.
- Clean out the garden beds.
- Cultivate the landscaping beds.
- Edge beds before mulching.
- Rake the area smooth.
- Apply a product to prevent weeds.
To keep grass from growing in mulch, you can rake the mulch you have applied and place newspaper pieces on the grass. Then, spread the mulch over them. The paper will suffocate the grass, which will end up composting naturally. Another alternative is to spray the grass with a herbicide, but be careful to protect the plants so that the product does not reach them. You can do it with a cardboard shield.
Finally, you can get black mulch, brown mulch, and red mulch and almost any of them can work for dark foliage and dark green plants. Always pick a color that works with the color of your blooms.
What is the difference between sod and seed?
Sodding and seeding are two different ways to get grass. Sodding means taking a slab of grass and placing it over the soil so you can get a fresh laying turf already grown and you don’t have to wait for the seeds to sprout. In other words, it is the transplantation of mature grass.
On the other hand, seeding requires to spread some seeds over the ground and wait for them to mature and grow. Both are effective methods to grow your grass but it will depend on the time you can wait, the size of the area to cover, and your budget. Seeding takes time to develop but it establishes the herbs from the earliest stage.
What does it cost to have sod installed?
The average cost of sod installation in the US is around $1,849. Every project can range from $1,026 to $2,698, but you can get it at $450. Ground preparation for sodding can cost between $45 and $75 per hour.
However, you can install sod yourself. Sod can be purchased at regular wholesale stores such as Home Depot or Walmart, which can help you keep the costs low. Doing it yourself can save you money and it is not very difficult.
Is it hard to install sod?
Sod installation is not hard if you select the right type of sod according to the space available, weather, and conditions. You need to measure the area and calculate the square feet of the product required by multiplying length times the area width.
To prep soil for sodding, you will have to grade the ground so that soil drains away from foundations and buildings. If you are renovating lawn, destroy the current vegetation and remove rocks, roots, and clods. Apply humus compost and water heavily to see if water puddles in any spot. In case it does, eliminate low spots with more soil. Finally, schedule the sod delivery so you can install it the same day.
To install it, start by the longest straight line, but and push edges and ends against each other so they remain tight. After installing it, roll the area to improve sod contact and remove air pockets. Finally, water it frequently, starting within 30 minutes after installation.
Regarding how long it takes to install sod, consider that one person can install one pallet (600 square feet) and it can take 60 to 90 minutes of work. Hard to access areas can delay it and complicate work.
If you have any questions about this article or lawn care services, give us a call at 919-358-7426. We’d be happy to help you.
Belton’s Professional Lawn Care & Landscaping