Thoroughly Take Care Of Your Lawn Year-Round- Recommendations From Kansas City Landscapers

| Friday, March 29, 2013
By Fred McDodd


An informed person shouldn't feel like a pristine lawn is outside their grasp. Just watering and mowing the lawn is not enough for an immaculate yard. Below are listed the important techniques that professional Kansas City landscapers apply.

The first step must be to acknowledge the plant as a whole (roots, stems, leaves) and the unique needs of each part. Allowing the lawn to grow uncultivated inevitably means it will be vulnerable to pests and disease, not to mention ugly. After a while you will be aware of signs of disease or stress. And you will know how to treat the threat.

Preparing the top layer of soil is always the first step professional Kansas City Landscapers take. Try to create a texture that is somewhat compressible and retains moisture. Professionals know the important of soil that is conditioned for the best water retention and oxygen exposure.

The next step in soil-preparation is the acidity of the soil. There are various types of test-kits in Kansas City landscaping stores. Once you know which level you are at, use lime or ash to alkalize (raise) and compost or manure to acidify (lower) the pH. A slightly acidic pH (6.8) is the best for most grass varieties. With all of the various methods and materials out there, refer to a Kansas City landscaping company.

Kansas City's snow and heavy rain create problems of erosion and standing water, which can not only harm the grass roots but expose the yard to disease from stress. There is no other remedy than preemptive management. Fungus and other diseases come from standing water, along with a suffocation of grass leaves and roots. Erosion will remove pivotal protection from roots and wash away nutrients. Use extra soil to re-grade steep or bowl-shaped areas. Use creative landscaping to deal with particularly troublesome areas.

Depending on your budget, circumstances, and resources you will have to use either sod or seed or both to plant the grass itself. Sod gives you instant grass. That's its greatest strength. But if you are needing a mixed variety of grass or needing to stay on a budget, seed is superior.

Mixing multiple varieties of seed can help you know first-hand which will thrive the best in your yard. One variety may grow well in one area that is heavily shaded and another may grow well a few feet away in a full-sun area. This will cause the yard to thrive, though some people do not like the resulting mixture of color and texture that may result. Each yard is unique and consulting a local Kansas City landscaping supplier or shop may be needed.

Proper care in how you water is crucial. Many people unknowingly water at the wrong times or too often, resulting in a vulnerable and patchy yard. Watching to make sure the soil never dries out completely but is also not over-saturated for long times is the general rule for most Kansas City landscapers. Thatch is a common result of regular over-watering. It is a layer of dead grass that becomes a breeding ground for insects and fungus. Proper water, with soil that correctly retains moisture, should rarely exceed 2 inches of water per week.

You must deal with thatch at least once ever few years, if not more often. The yard can switch into a different mode of growth that leaves bare areas of soil that are covered with debris. Nonetheless, a modest amount of thatch under a lush lawn is fine. It can even help hold water and micro-nutrients in the soil.

De-thatching is therefore a required part of regular lawn-care. A power-rake is the most common tool for this task, but, if one is not readily available, a stiff hand-rake will do. Raking should bring the dead grass to the surface and uncover the soil's surface. The dried grass can be a fire hazard so ensure that you dispose of it or compost it.

Snowfall and frost will compress the soil every year. This means the grass roots will not be able to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide effectively; a serious hindrance in raising a healthy yard.

To fix this problem of compression Kansas City landscapers aerate the yard. The aerator will create an even series of holes a few inches deep. Ideally this will provide access to roots and sufficient surface-area for effective gas-exchange.

At the conclusion of Winter or very beginning of Spring Kansas City landscapers work with a pre-emergent to prevent the germination of weeds. Pre-emergent is a combination of an herbicide and a fertilizer that is specifically made to stop weeds from germinating. Weeds are thus removed from the equation in a pivotal growth season.

Food is needed if your grass is going to stay healthy. Over time essential nutrients are extracted by erosion and the removal of grass-clippings. These must be replaced several times a year if the yard is going to be healthy and strong. Skilled Kansas City landscapers will perform two or three feedings every year to replace the leeched nutrients. Chemical nutrients are a common method for feeding or, a more natural method, compost and manure.

You should not fertilize when the grass is too high, or else the nutrition will be concentrated in some areas and never reach other areas. And yet, mowing the grass just before fertilizing can be harmful as well, since the the cut leaves will be vulnerable to chemical burns. It is beneficial to say that Kansas City landscapers and lawn-care pros usually set their equipment higher than many people would because of the trauma the yard will endure when it has been cut too short.

Applying a fungicide is highly encouraged by Kansas City landscapers to be proactive against fungus. Shaded and damp yards and gardens are particularly prone to infection. Professional landscapers in Kansas City may offer treatments for an infected lawn, but the ounce of prevention will cost much less than the pound of cure.

Intelligent Kansas City landscapers will always strive for a healthy lawn in the good times before the bad times come. Making your lawn reach its peak health now will help it when hard times come, just as your body fights off stress and disease if it is healthy. It should go without saying that a neglected yard is easily taken out when stress comes but a cultivate yard will stay strong and healthy.

You cannot neglect any of these issues if your are going to have a professional-quality yard. Developing a beautiful lawn is hard but it surely is rewarding. So have fun and best of luck!




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