Saturday, March 30, 2013

Kansas City Landscaping- Learn How To Care For For Your Grass Annually

By Wayne Evans


An informed and serious person doesn't have to leave a professionally kept lawn to the professionals. But full lawn care involves a lot more than a mowing and watering routine. In this article we will cover fundamental methods that many professional Kansas City landscapers apply.

You must acknowledge the demands of your grass as a living thing. Failing to meet these needs will result in a lawn which will be vulnerable to pests and disease, not to mention ugly. Being cognizant of the needs of your grass isn't the end of the matter at all. You must also understand how to answer them.

Professional landscapers in Kansas City always treat the first several inches of soil, if possible. The goal of this preparation is a "loamy" texture with the right balance of organic material, sand and clay. The objective of this texture is proper moisture retention and gas-diffusion. Some people don't understand that roots need to stay moist and exchange Carbon dioxide for O2.

Acidity is one other aspect of this preparation. Every Kansas City landscaping supplier or garden store will have a pH testing kit. Then balance the acidity with organic substances that will also provide nutrition- acidifying nitrogen, fertilizer, plant foods, and lime are the most common. A slightly acidic pH (6.7) is the best for most grass varieties. Check with local Kansas City landscaping suppliers for the price of materials and instructions.

Erosion and standing water can be a problem for many yards in the Kansas City region. Unless you are attentive, this will harm the grass roots and expose the yard to stress and disease. Erosion removes the protective layer of soil over the roots and dries them out while standing water suffocates the roots and prevents the exchange of nutrients. 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..

Check with your local supply store for grass varieties and whether they are offered in seed form or sod form. Grass seed is always much cheaper, it can be mixed with other species of grass, and does not require a truck and trailer to pick up. But it will inevitably require much more labor and time to grow into a lush yard.

Some yards have issues like heavy traffic and erosion, which will 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 for battling the diverse threats to Kansas City lawns. Seek advice or help from a professional for your unique regional needs.

Watering too often can be just as bad as not watering enough. Kansas City landscapers view each yard as unique and watering as a science that is just as varied in application. Watering too often can stimulate the growth of thatch, a dead layer of vegetation just above the soil, though you must also never allow the roots to become dry. Yards rarely need more than 2 inches of water in Kansas City.

Thatch cannot be ignored for years or it will become a major factor in stress and disease. It has the ability to choke and stress the grass. But, some thatch is seen as a good thing. Water and nutrients are actually held in the soil, protected by wind and sun, when there is a thin layer. But it should be treated if this layer becomes too thick.

De-thatching is therefore a required part of regular lawn-care. Kansas City landscapers would simply burn the dead grass during winter but this is no longer allowed by the law so they power-rake it into piles instead. This will draw the dead vegetation to the surface and collect it for removal. The dried grass can be a fire hazard so be sure to throw it away or compost it.

Rain, snow and foot-traffic will compact your yard's soil all year round. The compacting of the soil will inhibit several important processes and therefore must be dealt with.

Aeration is the solution Kansas City landscapers apply to this condition. This process cuts uniform holes all through the yard and breaks the surface of the soil. When done efficiently, this will simulate natural processes that lessen the compression and enable the roots to increase and expand correctly.

It is far more effective to halt weeds before they're able to emerge. To achieve this Kansas City landscapers work with a pre-emergent. A pre-emergent is a chemical that, just as you may guess, stops weeds before they even come up. So the weeds don't even take root. Thus, time and effort will be saved, both for you and your grass.

Every living thing needs nutrition and grass is no exception. You will inevitably lose nitrogen and other elements throughout the year because of rain, sunshine, wind, etc. The yard must have these essential elements or it will be malnourished and prone to deadly stresses. Kansas City landscapers suggest a spring and fall feeding at least and, if the conditions are not too stressful, a Summer feeding. Compost and manure are great methods for feeding your yard.

Don't ever fertilize when the grass is too high, or the nutrient will not be uniformly spread. Also, be careful not to cut the grass too short. The tender new leaves and cuts in the leaves can be harmed by the chemical nutrient, resulting in burns and yellowing. Keep in mind that cutting the grass too short will force the grass to switch into a survival mode and stress it. This is why many landscapers in Kansas City use higher settings on their mowing equipment.

Every year Kansas City landscapers utilize a fungicide for preventing the spread of disease. Grass that is continually moist for long periods will attract spores that, if allowed to establish and grow, can destroy an entire yard. Kansas City landscapers may be able to treat an infected yard but the ounce of prevention will cost much less than the pound of cure.

Defending the lawn should be a proactive job and not reactive. 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.

You cannot neglect any of these issues if your are going to have a professional-quality yard. You will find few home-improvement projects as rewarding as gardening and lawn-care. What are you waiting for? Get started!




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