Turf Talk from Charlie
The days are long and hot, and before we know it we’ll all be thinking about the cool nights of fall. However, now is not the time to forget your lawn. As I’m writing this, it looks to be a long, hot, dry summer. Rest assured that we at King GREEN are aware of the weather situation – whatever it is – and we’re making timely adjustments to our program.
We’ve put a lot of thought into the summer of 2008. Our Fescue lawns are most likely suffering from the summer doldrums. The lime application that you receive today won’t need watering, but it will adjust the soil and allow for better nutrient uptake. Our warm-season lawns (Bermuda and Zoysia) will be watched carefully to make sure we’re applying the right things at the right times. Most likely, we’ll be applying a light fertilization with iron and another product that will tighten up the turf and provide a denser stand of grass. By doing this, we can provide a better, thicker turf with less irrigation.
Make sure you’re mowing properly (see page 2). The right height and a sharp blade are both important. Think now about our fall overseeding service. Many customers didn’t overseed their Fescue lawns last year because of the drought. Please be sure to order this important service this year if you have a Fescue lawn. Fescue tends to suffer during our hot, dry summers. If we don’t overseed, it tends to get thinner and thinner. These weaker lawns not only look bad, but they also make it difficult for us to control weeds. The first step in controlling weeds is always a full, thick, healthy lawn. Aeration and seeding in the fall is the best way to ensure this. Call us today for a quote and to get scheduled.
Remember that you can visit our website anytime at www.kinggreen.com to learn more about the many services we have to offer. Thanks again, as always, for using King GREEN. It does matter to us that you’re there. We always try to answer the phone when you need us, and we’ll keep working until you’re happy. Our goal is to be:
“The Finest Lawn Service Available"
It’s Time to Start Thinking About Core Aeration and Overseeding of Fescue Grass
King GREEN’s core aeration and over-seeding re-establishes turf density lost from summer disease, heat stress and drought conditions. King GREEN uses the finest turf-type tall Fescue seed available.
As always, King GREEN guarantees your satisfaction and will continue to “touch up” any thin or bare areas at your request. The core aeration and overseeding of your Fescue lawn will be completed sometime between late August through October, depending on how quickly you respond.
If you have a Fescue lawn, give us a call today to order this important service. You, and your lawn, will be glad you did!
Mow Like a Pro
FIVE TIPS FOR PROPER MOWING
Now that we’re in the thick of the summer season, it’s time for a few reminders about proper lawn mowing. By following the tips listed here, you’ll be promoting better overall health for your lawn with fewer pest problems to worry about.
Use a sharp blade. If you mow with a dull blade, turf tips may end up ragged, eventually bleaching out to an unsightly tan color. This obviously doesn’t look good, and it enables disease and insect problems to move in more easily.
Avoid scalping (or cutting the lawn too short). Your grass needs its leaves to produce food and to shade and cool the soil. The ideal height for Bermuda lawns is 1" to 2" tall, and a height of 21/2" to 31/2" is recommended for Fescue lawns.
Follow the 1/3 rule. Removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time cuts off the food-producing part of the plant, forcing the roots to put their energy into replacing the blade instead of thickening your turf.
Try grasscycling. This is the practice of returning grass clippings back to the lawn rather than bagging them. You’ll be saving yourself some work while helping to improve the environment (grasscycling cuts down on the amount of yard waste that gets sent to the landfill). As long as you stick to the 1/3 rule, the cuttings shouldn’t add to the thatch layer. Plus, they’ll put valuable fertilizer back into the soil to promote better growth. Mulching mowers make grasscycling easy to do.
Finally, put some variety into your life! By alternating your mowing pattern each time you mow, your grass won’t bend in one direction.
At King GREEN, we’re committed to helping your lawn reach its true potential. If you have any questions about mowing your lawn, or about our lawn care services in general, please feel free to give us a call.
Stop Topping
Once trees are fully leafed out, many homeowners are tempted to top them in an effort to curtail growth and diminish their size. This practice, which literally removes the top of a tree, is never a good idea.
WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT IT?
Topping, also known as stubbing, dehorning or heading, actually causes a tree’s growth rate to increase rather than decrease. This results in numerous long, skinny shoots growing back rapidly, creating a need for even more cutting year after year.Topping can lead to hazardous conditions in your landscape as well. When a tree is topped, it becomes more vulnerable to wood-rotting organisms. Rotted limbs may fall and cause serious injury or property damage. It also goes without saying that topped trees are unattractive. This can take away from the overall beauty of your landscape while decreasing your property value. We urge you to avoid topping your trees at all costs. This extreme practice does much more harm than good, and should never take the place of proper pruning by a trained technician. Regular, professional pruning is much better for your trees, improving their health and appearance while decreasing the potential for wind or storm damage.