Taking Good Care Of Your Turf The Recommended Way- Kansas City Landscaping Essentials

| Tuesday, April 2, 2013
By Paul Wade


You won't need to pay full price for the benefits of a good lawn care servicing. But a common weekly trim is not enough for an immaculate yard. In this article we will cover fundamental methods that many professional Kansas City landscapers implement.

It is fundamental to comprehend that your grass will need more than basic weekly mowing and watering if it is going to thrive. Grasping this and being diligent to meet those needs will result in a beautiful and healthy lawn. Over time you can learn to read your lawn and be cognizant of how the lawn shows its needs and stresses. Then you will understand better how to deal with these issues.

Preparing the top layer of soil is always the first step professional Kansas City Landscapers take. The proper preparation should ideally supply a loamy texture. Professionals know the important of soil that is conditioned for superior water retention and oxygen exposure.

The soil should also have the right level of acidity (pH). Simple test kits are available from most Kansas City landscaping supplier shops. Then you can use certain organic materials to raise or lower the pH, such as manure or sulfur (to lower) and firewood ash or peat moss (to raise). A level of around 6.7 (slightly acidic) is good. Kansas City landscaping shops will have the tools and materials you need. Different products have different application methods so do your research on how to apply them

Kansas City's water run-off tendencies can mean pools of standing water or heavy erosion on your property, which will result in bare areas and potential disease. If you aren't mindful, this will harm the grass roots and expose the yard to stress and disease. To anchor and grow properly the soil in which it grows must not be washed away or over-saturated. The solution is relatively simple- level off and re-grade areas that are low or prone to high drainage, and plant sod or erosion-resistant vegetation, or place mulch, rock, or erosion-controlling materials over extremely steep areas.

After the soil has been prepared and graded you will want to cover any bare spots (or even plant the lawn itself). You will have a huge variety of grasses to choose from and can either spread it as seed or install it as sod. Sod requires less time and labor but it is much more expensive, while the much less expensive choice would be seed.

Many lawns require multiple types of grass because of the varied conditions present, such as shaded areas or damp areas that are susceptible to disease. This will cause the yard to thrive, with the only downside being that the lawn may be mottled in color and texture. Once again, inquire with a professional Kansas City landscaping supplier or contractor to answer your specific needs.

It is very important that you understand proper watering methods. Many people unknowingly water at the wrong times or too often, resulting in an unhealthy lawn. Many Kansas City landscapers work with a regular watering pattern that will keep the soil moistened but not overly damp. Watering too often can trigger the growth of thatch, a dead layer of vegetation just above the soil, while watering too little will obviously dehydrate the roots. Proper water, with soil that correctly retains moisture, should rarely exceed 2 inches of water per week.

Thatch cannot be ignored for years or it will become a major factor in stress and disease. This layer of dead grass lying on top of the ground will choke the grass, not to mention become a breeding ground for disease. Still, some thatch is seen as a benefit. A bit of it covering the surface of the soil will result in better nutrition and water-retention. But if it is not decomposing quickly enough it will do more harm than good.

Zoysia is one of several varieties of grass that might require a consistent de-thatching. Landscapers in Kansas City will de-thatch by using a power-rake. If this is not easily obtained a stiff-toothed hand-rake will also work. The point is to simply take out the excess thatch. This replaces the normal decomposition process. The dried grass can be a fire hazard so be sure to dispose of it or compost it.

Soil surrounding the roots of your grass gets compacted as time passes. Important water, nutrient, and gas exchange will be choked or even stopped, which will never let you reach your goal of a successful lawn.

Aeration is the solution Kansas City landscapers apply to this condition. The aerator creates a series of holes that get rid of this compression and simulate the normal foraging and breaking up of soil found in nature. If performed correctly, this will eliminate the compression and allow the roots to do what they do best.

At the conclusion of Winter or start of Spring Kansas City landscapers apply a pre-emergent chemical that keeps weeds from germination. A large number of lawn weeds emerge from their seeds once the weather warms above freezing. A pre-emergent needs to be applied just before the thaw to stop the weeds from germinating. This means the weeds don't even take root. This is much more effective than attacking the weeds after they have sprouted.

All living things need food to survive and grass is no exception. The soil will lose nutrients over the years through various processes. These nutrients must be replaced if your grass is going to be properly nourished, and therefore be healthy. Early Spring and late Fall are the best times to replenish the soil. Compost and manure are great alternatives to common chemical fertilizers.

In case the grass is too long, or if it has gone to seed, you should mow it and wait a few days before fertilizing, or the pellets of fertilizer will not be spread properly. On the other hand, be careful not to cut the grass too short. That will add stress to the grass as it tries to grow back and potentially burn the cut leaves, sucking water from them. It's beneficial to mention that many Kansas City landscapers advocate the higher settings on the mower for this reason and the fatigue the yard will endure when it has been cut too short.

Annually Kansas City landscapers apply a fungicide for preventing fungus spores from sprouting. Yards that are overly shaded or constantly wet are more susceptible to this threat. Kansas City landscapers may be able to treat an infected yard but sometimes a yard can be lost and must be destroyed.

It is as true in life as it is in landscaping, being diligent now will be much better in the long run than being reactive later. There is no alternative for a vibrant yard as the best way to prevent problems. A neglected yard looks unsightly, will be prone to die in tough times and consequently need to be replaced.

Make sure to integrate every one of these areas into a full strategy for your yard. Raising an attractive yard can be difficult but it is satisfying. So have fun and all the best!




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment