Assistance On How To Take Good Care Of Your Grass From Landscapers in Kansas City

| Wednesday, April 3, 2013
By Michael Stevenson


A do-it-yourself home owner who has time and determination shouldn't feel like a pristine lawn is outside of their grasp. At the same time a professional servicing takes a lot more than a weekly cut and water. This post will briefly discuss techniques professional Kansas City landscapers utilize.

Your lawn is a living organism that needs much more than water and sunlight if it is going to reach its full potential. Failing to meet these needs will result in a lawn which will be vulnerable to pests and disease, not to mention ugly. And yet realizing the needs of this creature called "grass" isn't going to answer them. You must apply that understanding with skill and diligence.

Kansas City Landscapers understand that the first 2-3" of dirt should be conditioned if the lawn is going to reach its full potential. The correct ratios of clay, sand, and organic matter will provide a loamy consistency. Not enough sand will mean inadequate drainage, resulting in suffocated roots while an absence of sand will result in a clay texture that is too hard on the grass.

The health of your lawn will also rely on the pH level of the soil. Every Kansas City landscaping shop should stock a simple pH testing kit. The acidity can be altered with lime or other products, like sphagnum peat moss, sulfur, or wood ash. A pH level of between 6.5 and 7.0 is ideal. Kansas City landscaping suppliers will have the price on material and recommendations on the application strategy.

Erosion and standing water are big issues in the Kansas City region. If you are not proactive, one storm can do significant damage. Water left standing too long can suffocate roots and leaves or promote disease. Grass that is not well-rooted will be killed by fast-moving water and the essential top layer of soil will be removed. Innovative landscape designs should be a last result in fixing these issues. First, re-grade the areas that are low, steep, or channeling water improperly..

According to your budget, circumstances, and resources you will have to use either sod or seed or both to plant the grass itself. Seed is much cheaper but is more difficult and labor-intensive while it establishes itself.

Heavy shade and constant dampness together, or maybe full sun and heavy traffic, are scenarios that mean you should look into two or even three types of grass to be planted together. It is very common for professional Kansas City landscapers to use a seed mixture to combat the varied conditions in the local region. Yards and even neighborhoods present their own unique challenges and a professional landscaper may be contacted for information.

It is very important that you understand proper watering methods. Many people unknowingly water at the wrong times or too often, resulting in a vulnerable and patchy yard. Many Kansas City landscapers have a once-weekly irrigation routine that will allow water to drain properly while keeping the soil moist. Thatch and fungus thrive when a yard is too wet. Thatch is a layer of dead grass that blankets the soil and results in patched grass, leaving a hiding place for pests and disease. The soil conditioning plays the largest role in deciding how to water. If it drains too quickly without retaining water or does not drain well you will have to adjust. One watering per week at around 2 inches is sufficient for most lawns.

Your yard can become choked and overly stressed by thatch over time. It has the ability to choke and stress the grass. A small layer is fine as long as the shoots and leaves are easily covering it.

Taking away thatch is necessary for some varieties of grass regardless whether the yard is healthy or not. Expert landscapers in Kansas City propose you de-thatch with a power-rake or hand-rake. The main objective is to simply remove the extra thatch. This replaces the normal decomposition process. The dried grass can be a fire hazard so always throw it away or compost it.

Rain, snow, frost and foot-traffic can gradually compact the soil. This compacting effect will eventually hinder nutrition, water, and gas from getting to the roots- a primary hindrance in raising a wholesome lawn.

To remedy these issues Kansas City landscapers aerate the lawn. This process cuts uniform holes through the entire yard and breaks the surface of the soil. If done correctly, this will relieve the compression and permit the roots to increase and grow properly.

Kansas City landscapers always apply a weed-preventative chemical known as a "pre-emergent" in the early Spring. The vast majority of lawn weeds emerge from their seeds once the weather warms above freezing. The pre-emergent will stop the weed seeds from activating and sprouting. The weeds are not even allowed to awaken and compete against the grass. This is much more effective than attacking the weeds after they have been established.

As with any other organism your lawn needs nutrition to grow. Over time essential nutrients are extracted from sunshine, wind, and other processes. Food must be put back in the soil or stress and disease can permanently harm the yard. Skilled Kansas City landscapers recommend at least two feedings every year, one in Spring and one in Fall. You can feed the lawn with chemicals or, the better option, compost and manure.

The grass should not be too long when it is fertilized or the fertilizer will not be spread correctly. In addition, be careful not to cut the grass too short. This will stress the grass as it tries to grow back to a healthy length and adding the fertilizer at that time can burn the grass. It is important to mention that lots of people believe cutting their grass shorter will save them work later, but this is not true. Professional Kansas City landscapers always advise cutting it at a medium height so that the grass does not have to constantly recover.

Kansas City landscapers always apply a fungicide at least once per year so that fungus is stopped before it infects a yard. Grass that is continually moist for long periods will attract mold, mildew, and fungus that can destroy a yard. The Kansas City climate can make fungus thrive, so be watchful, even if you do treat the yard.

It is as true in life as it is in landscaping, diligence and working hard in the good times will give you the extra assistance you need in tough times. Preventing issues before they happen means regular, informed care and smart strategies. A stressed or underfed lawn can be fragile and permanently harmed by even one day of bad weather but a strong yard will last through drought and disease much better.

Every Kansas City landscaper knows that being diligent and proactive is not easy but it is worth it. It will add value to your home and give you and your family a beautiful place to be together. So get out there and enjoy yourself!




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