Most homeowners know what services are necessary for good Memphis lawn care: proper mowing, aeration, overseeding, adequate hydration and fertilizer. Aeration is one of the most beneficial Memphis lawn care services, especially if you live in an area that experiences episodes of little to no rainfall. Aerating your Memphis lawn will allow the water from your irrigation system to reach the grass roots directly and be immediately absorbed. However, even though aeration ensures that your Memphis lawn and soil are manipulated, you should go one step further and also have your soil periodically tested by a Memphis lawn care professional.

A soil test is a fairly simple procedure and many Memphis lawn care companies offer the service for free in conjunction with their Memphis lawn care programs. The Memphis lawn care technician will take a small soil sample and have it sent to a lab. A qualified soil expert will examine the sample and look at the pH level (acidity); the presence or absence of such macronutrients as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen; the presence or absence of such micronutrients as iron, calcium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper and other nutrients that deter weed growth and enhance the Memphis lawn’s resistance to insect and disease infestations; the soil type, which can help your Memphis lawn care technician create a preventative plan to reduce the incidence of compaction; and levels of decomposed plant material, also known as thatch.

Once the results are back, your Memphis lawn care specialists can consult with you on what the best plan of action is regarding your Memphis lawn care regimen. To schedule a soil analysis, call your local Memphis lawn care company today.

Just because it is wintertime, doesn’t mean your outdoor chores are over. Your trees continue to need care throughout the cold weather. You should make sure there is a thin layer of mulch around your trees and ornamentals to help them retain water and to reduce temperature extremes. The mulch will act like a blanket and give the tree’s roots extra protection.

Trees also need water now, just like they do in the summertime. Winter droughts can be just a severe as summer droughts.  If temperatures permit, you should water your trees occasionally, it can be a life saver. Experts say when the ground is not frozen, trees need at least an inch of water a week. But make sure you only water when the soil is not frozen, otherwise the water may freeze and cause your plants to suffocate.

Wintertime is also the perfect time to prune your trees. It’s easier to see the tree’s structural problems without leaves blocking the way. You should prune off the dead limbs and the ones that are growing improperly, like limbs that cross other branches.  Dense trees can also be pruned to reduce wind resistance which also lowers their risk of being blown over. Plus winter pruning can also reduce ice and snow damage to the trees and nearby structures.

When snow falls you can help unburden your trees by gently brushing from its limbs all that loose snow. And watch where you use de-icing salt. It’s very harmful to trees and other plants because experts say it restricts the root system from absorbing water, creating a drought-like situation. Choose environmentally friendly alternatives like sand, sawdust, ashes and non-clumping kitty litter.

You are really looking forward to sprucing up your lawn this year and have decided to add fertilizer into your lawn care regimen, but you might be wondering which is better: liquid or granular fertilizer?

The choice between liquid and dry fertilizers may depend on what lawn care goals you hope to achieve this season. If you have a persistent weed problem, then liquid fertilizer may be the way to go. Some fertilization treatments include pre- and post-emergent weed control elements and when they come in liquid form, they are absorbed more quickly, producing faster results. Lawn care specialists also suggest that liquid fertilization treatments are better for the environment because the fertilizer does not spread all over your landscape like granular treatments.

Liquid fertilizer has the benefit of taking less time to be effective. In order for granular fertilization to work properly, there must be adequate moisture. If you’re having a dry season, the results may not be as successful as with liquid fertilizer.

There are some lawn care experts who suggest using a combination of dry and liquid fertilizer for optimal results. When you begin to fertilize in the spring, the weather is typically wetter than in the late summer and early fall months. You can take advantage of this moisture and use granular fertilizer to jumpstart your lawn. The warmer months typically produce less rainfall, so liquid fertilizer is more ideal during this period, along with proper hydration.

For the best results, contact your local lawn care company and leave it up to the professionals. Employing a lawn care company often allows you to expect higher quality results.

Lawn care involves many steps, but perhaps none is as important as proper hydration. After all, a lawn cannot grow without water. Adequately hydrating your lawn is not an exact science, but it is close. The best plan is to install a sprinkler system that ensures your lawn is watered every day at the same time. Sprinkler systems with a timer are even more ideal, but you still have several options there. Lawn care specialists highly recommend pulsating sprinklers for the best results.

Pulsating sprinkler systems spray water into the air and allow the water to fall back down to the ground in a fine mist. There are five different types of pulsating sprinklers: impulse, traveling, stationary, oscillating and rotary. Impulse sprinklers are the top choice of lawn care professionals who need to water a larger area such as an entire landscape or vast lawn.

It is important to know if you have high or low water pressure, as that also factors in to which type of pulsating sprinkler you choose for your lawn care needs. If you have low water pressure, an H-base is a better choice than a spike-based sprinkler which is better suited for high pressure.

Pulsating sprinklers have the benefit of being designed with gusty winds in mind, as well as low-hanging trees or tall shrubs. The height of the water spray can be adjusted accordingly and since the water is typically sprayed close to the ground, its spray is unaffected by the wind.

If you think a pulsating sprinkler may be beneficial to your lawn, contact your local lawn care company. Many lawn care providers also install irrigation systems, especially since proper hydration makes their job that much easier!

Mowing might seem like the simplest of Memphis lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your Memphis lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your Memphis lawn. Here are some Memphis lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.

Most Memphis lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.

Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the Memphis lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your Memphis lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.

Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your Memphis lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your Memphis lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.

If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local Memphis lawn care professionals.

During the winter we prepare for harsh weather by piling on layers of clothing and wearing heavy coats, gloves, hats and scarves; unfortunately, not many people think about how the living things in their yards and gardens react to the cold.  Trees and shrubs are vulnerable to cold weather just like we are.  If new growth in the early  Fall doesn’t have enough time to harden off, experts say the sudden drop in temperatures can create ice crystals that can rupture cell walls, resulting in dead branch tips and branches.

Officials at a state cooperative extension service say one of the biggest problems for trees and shrubs is the sharp temperature change from day into night during the winter.  They say that dramatic change can actually freeze the water in the trunks of trees, causing them to explode or split open.  That reaction is called frost cracking.  Sometimes these cracks can close when warm weather returns, if the damage isn’t that severe.  Many shrubs can suffer from something similar, called bark split.  Extension service officials say those particularly susceptible are many cultivars of evergreen azaleas.  In most cases plants close over the cracks with no treatment necessary.

During this winter there are some things you can do to protect your trees and shrubs.  You can wrap the trunks with burlap strips or commercial tree wrap.  Experts also recommend painting the trunks white or shading them with a board to prevent bark splitting.  These methods reflect sunlight and reduce temperature fluctuations, like the buildup of heat during the day, that cause splitting.  All wraps should be removed after one season to stop insect or moisture damage.

As the cooler temperatures arrive and you’ll soon be exchanging your leaf rake for snow shovel, consider a few simple leaf raking tips that will help winterize your Memphis lawn while increasing your chances for a better spring green-up.

How well you maintain the leaves in your Memphis lawn is a large indicator for how healthy and prepared your Memphis lawn will be for next season. When neglected, leaves can suffocate and rob turf of sunlight, water and other essential nutrients. For every leaf that lies on top of your turf, multiple blades of grass beneath it run the risk of browning or even worse, developing patches of mold or fungus depending on how low temperatures drop in your area.

Depending on your yard, raking once a week should be sufficient in at least warding off fungus and disease from developing in your Memphis lawn. If you do step up to twice a week, try to keep it to a light raking as it will be gentler on your Memphis lawn. Raking is a natural form of dethatching but a little layer of thatch build up is actually healthy for your turf. Just be sure the second raking doesn’t over do it.

If you want to save time and utilize leaves for compost, a mulching mower is a smart investment. A mulching mower can be very beneficial to your Memphis lawn as it will chop up and shred leaves to easily decompose in the soil. This granulizes leaves into a natural fertilizer to be absorbed into your Memphis lawn.

Check back next week for more information about the absorbing of nutrients in your Memphis lawn.

As the cooler temperatures arrive and you’ll soon be exchanging your leaf rake for snow shovel, consider a few simple leaf raking tips that will help winterize your lawn while increasing your chances for a better spring green-up.

How well you maintain the leaves in your lawn is a large indicator for how healthy and prepared your lawn will be for next season. When neglected, leaves can suffocate and rob turf of sunlight, water and other essential nutrients. For every leaf that lies on top of your turf, multiple blades of grass beneath it run the risk of browning or even worse, developing patches of mold or fungus depending on how low temperatures drop in your area.

Depending on your yard, raking once a week should be sufficient in at least warding off fungus and disease from developing in your lawn. If you do step up to twice a week, try to keep it to a light raking as it will be gentler on your lawn. Raking is a natural form of dethatching but a little layer of thatch build up is actually healthy for your turf. Just be sure the second raking doesn’t over do it.

If you want to save time and utilize leaves for compost, a mulching mower is a smart investment. A mulching mower can be very beneficial to your lawn as it will chop up and shred leaves to easily decompose in the soil. This granulizes leaves into a natural fertilizer to be absorbed into your lawn.

Check back next week for more information about the absorbing of nutrients in your lawn.

If you’ve taken care of your fall cleanup and removed all leaves and debris, your Memphis lawn is almost ready for maximum absorption of nutrients. Thanks to the seasonal weather changes, nutrients are well on their way via rainfall and other debris like leaves and grass clippings that may have temporarily composted before your fall cleanup. Insects will also pose less threat as they head into hibernation; leaving any last standing weeds from a final post emergent treatment your Memphis lawn’s only competition for nutrients.
The next logical step would be to apply a final fertilization treatment to winterize your turf, but wait! Be sure to read ahead before you feed your Memphis lawn for maximum absorption of nutrients.
Soil naturally becomes compacted from rain and general use all season which closes pathways for nutrients to be absorbed by the roots of your Memphis lawn. A core aeration treatment allows maximum ventilation of your soil and opens up more pathways for nutrients to be effectively and efficiently absorbed by the roots of your Memphis lawn. While spike shoes and other do-it-yourself techniques can produce some positive results, often times they don’t penetrate deep enough or pull enough plugs of soil out to naturally fertilize your Memphis lawn.  An aerator will evenly ventilate and penetrate your Memphis lawn for maximum absorption of nutrients in less time. The plugs of soil will also act as a natural fertilizer for the surface of your Memphis lawn. Is your Memphis lawn in a little rougher shape than most? Are there section of turf missing only to leave spots of soil? Once your Memphis lawn has had a core aeration treatment, it is now ready for a seeding treatment to renovate sections of your Memphis lawn that are in less than top form.
After you’ve checked these items of your Memphis lawn’s to-do list you’re now ready to winterize your Memphis lawn with a late fall feeding fertilizer application.
Not sure which type of winter fertilizer to use? Check back next week to learn how to determine the best winter fertilizer for your turf type.