Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Local Landscaper in Kansas City Gives Suggestions On How To Take Good Care Of Your Lawn

By Sara Donalds


You don't need to pay someone for a high quality yard servicing. On the other hand a professional servicing takes a lot more than a weekly cut and water. In this article we will cover fundamental methods that many professional Kansas City landscapers employ.

It is fundamental to accept that your grass will need much more than water and sunlight if it is going to reach its full potential. Careful cultivation with comprehension and diligence will give the lawn what it truly needs. Over time you can learn to read your lawn and be alert to signs of stress or disease. And you will know how to treat the threat.

Professional landscapers in Kansas City always treat the first two inches of soil, if possible. Discover what your soil needs and aim for a texture that is somewhat compressible and retains moisture. Kansas City landscapers know this texture is essential for providing the ideal oxygen and water retention.

Your soil's pH level will also be a fundamental issue. Kansas City landscapers utilize basic pH testing tools that are available at many garden-supply retail stores. The acidity can be regulated with lime or other products, like sphagnum peat moss, sulfur, or wood ash. Most lawns are subject to become to acidic and need to be brought to nearly neutral (6.6-6.9 pH). The variety of materials and methods for adjusting soil pH levels make it necessary to speak to a Kansas City landscaping supplier.

Erosion and standing water tend to be a problem for many yards in the Kansas City region. Grass needs to have several inches of well-drained, yet moist soil. To anchor and grow properly the soil in which it grows must not be washed away or over-saturated. To prevent this you should re-grade areas that are too steep or that are prone to standing water. Installing sod in steeper areas or utilizing landscaping technology like erosion blankets can help in especially steep areas.

When cultivating a new lawn or covering a bare area you need to choose between sod or grass seed. In general, seed is much less expensive and you can mix the varieties you like, while sod is not as vulnerable or time and labor-intensive.

Heavy shade and constant dampness together, or maybe full sun and heavy traffic, are scenarios that mean you should plant a variety of grasses that will grow together. Mottling of color and texture is the only complaint some people have with a yard containing several grass species. If this is an issue, more drastic landscaping may be necessary to remove the varied conditions. Seek advice or help from a professional for your unique regional needs.

A smart landscaper knows that watering too little could hurt your grass just as bad as watering too much or too often. Saturating the soil once per week, enough to keep the soil damp, is the general rule for most Kansas City landscapers. Warning signs of over-watering include- Fungus, Thatch (dead layers of grass throughout the yard), yellowing patches, burned grass (in the Summer heat), and an abundance of weeds. If the soil is correctly conditioned-draining properly but retaining moisture- 2 inches of water once a week is usually sufficient.

If thatch is left for a long period or becomes uncontrolled it will be a real danger to your yard. It has the ability to choke and stress the grass. But thatch that is kept in check, or that decomposes fairly quickly, is actually valuable.

De-thatching is therefore a required part of regular lawn-care. To remove thatch Kansas City landscaper simply rake it with a stiff metal rake or a power-rake. Rake the thatch into piles, passing over the yard at least twice. Be careful not to damage the living grass. Once removed, the thatch can be easily composted (when it is clean) or simply thrown away.

Rain, snow and foot-traffic will compact your yard's soil all year round. This can be a serious issue for your grass if not dealt with.

Kansas City landscapers get rid of this problem by aerating. To aerate the yard you will need to rent or borrow an aerator and run it over the yard several times. If done properly, this will alleviate the compression and allow free exchange of elements to and from the roots.

Kansas City landscapers know that late Winter is the time to apply a pre-emergent. Pre-emergents are just what the name implies- a chemical that stops the weeds before they emerge. Weeds are therefore taken out of the equation in a pivotal growth season.

Nutrition is essential for every creature and grass needs it as much as you do. Your yard will lose nutrients over time through various processes. The yard must have these essential elements or it will not be able to feed properly. Early Spring and late Fall are when you want to feed the soil. Chemical fertilization is not the only option. Manure and compost are better alternatives.

Be aware that fertilizing should be done when the grass is not too long so that the nutrients reach the soil, if you don't the nutrient will not be uniformly spread. Yet, if the grass has just been cut the fertilizer can do some major harm to the already stressed plants. Remember that grass that has been cut too short will be forced into a more intense growth mode that stresses the plant. This is why many landscapers in Kansas City use higher settings on their mowing equipment.

Employing a fungicide at least one time annually is commonly advised by Kansas City landscapers to be proactive against fungus. Grass that is continually moist for long periods will attract mold, mildew, and fungus that can destroy a yard. Kansas City landscaping is principally at risk of fungus in Summer when watered plants may stay wet for a long time.

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. Neglecting the yard not only makes it look bad now, but means it will be prone to disease and pests and eventually need complete replacement.

Every good Kansas City landscaper understands that doing all these methods and strategies is not as easy as people may think but it is needed if your yard is going to reach its full potential. Cultivating a beautiful landscape is not easy though it is fulfilling. So what are you waiting around for? Get going!




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