Quick Lawn Care Tips For Achieving the Perfect Lawn

If you've ever wanted to improve the look of you lawn there are a few things you can do to maintain your lawn on a weekly basis without doing any major work often required to recover a damaged lawn.

Lawn Fertilizer- Lawns need their Spring feed most of all, especially one containing nitrogen, backed up with both phosphates and potash. One feed per annum is not enough, and a Summer feed, if the lawn is looking a little jaded should contain either a proprietary lawn tonic, or nitrogen rich fertilize. An autumn lawn care feed should concentrate more on phosphates and potash rather than nitrogen, possibly combined with a worm killer and disease preventive.

Watering Your Lawn - Rainfall in the is normally sufficient to keep the roots supplied with moisture, but dry spells do occur in late spring and summer months. The first sign of drought will be colour change, from green to straw or even brown. It is advisable to water at the coolest time of day, early or late, and best with a rotary sprinkler. A good watering once a week for optimum lawn care is preferable to over watering,unless it is extremely hot. In this way deep root development will be encouraged.

Weed Control - This is really down to good lawn care management. With an established lawn, laid with good quality seed or turf, the rules for maintaining it include the following. Appropriate mowing, at the correct height and little and often, and proper watering especially at the hint of a dry spell. Scarifying helps to control weeds and invigorates lawn growth, as does proper feeding. Good fertility combats the growth of weeds and builds the strength of the grass. Worm casts invite weed seeds, worm control is necessary, and prevention of disease in bare patches.

Mowing Your Lawn - Mowing keeps the lawn looking attractive. It should he done regularly, from March to October, with sharp blades, set not too low. It is better to mow when the grass is dry, to reduce mower clogging. The mower should be moved in a constant direction at a steady pace, and not hoovered backwards and forwards. When newly sown grass reaches 2" or 3" inches high, the top 2" can be mowed with care.

Advice for new lawn care.

Establishment lawn care - Whether starting entirely from scratch, or renovating and old, tired lawn, the following is the best way to proceed. Seeding - for a lawn to be created from a bare, grassless mud patch, it is easier to get professional help with the levelling, via a tractor and box blade. A smooth clear surface is essential, with no holes, dips, or drainage problems.

Seed is best applied with a rotary type spreader. Half the seed should be spread in one direction, the remainder in the opposite direction. This gives good soil contact for the seed, and uniform germination. The type of grasses to be grown are dictated by climate, and are best planted 30 days before real warmth or chill sets in. Only hot season grasses should be sown when the temperature reaches 80 to 90 degrees. Hot season seed is very small and can be spread lightly, whereas cold climate seed is larger and requires heavier coverage for good thick grass.

There are various lawn care machines that can be rented for a day or two to power seed a lawn. The seed is dropped into ready made grooves as the machine moves over the ground. Again, a level surface is essential, and power seeders are not recommended where it is rough or uneven.

A further solution is to Hydroseed. Under this process the seed is mixed with fertilizer and a lawn care mulch plus water, and sprayed on to the lawn. This encourages quicker germination. The spray is coloured blue or green for identifying the sprayed area, and later turns white. The machine will usually have to be hired rather than rented. A lawn can also be renovated easily with a lawn care dethatcher, which scarifys the surface, and aids germination of scattered seeds. This machine needs using with care in respect of the lawn surface.

Preparing the Seed Bed.

For New Lawn care - Rake and smooth, remove any debris. Renovating Established Lawns - Mow closely. To overseed or repair bare spots, rake to produce a viable surface, then check section on 'fertilizing'. Kill off remaining seed with Finale. Vegetation will brown within 7-10 days. A good raking will remove loosened thatch and expose soil for seed. Bare spots can be chopped into small chunks to allow use of the slit seeder in a grid formation. Slits should run in a horizontal fashion across slopes. Do not use a Rototill, which will expose and spread weed seeds.

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Protect Your Lawn With The Proper Lawn Care Equipment

As any homeowner will tell you, the upkeep of the perfect lawn can be a meticulous and time-consuming job requiring many hours of dedication and around-the-year care. For some, who do not have the time or skills needed to maintain a healthy lawn, professional lawn care services are appropriate and worth the money.

But for others, who are insistent upon do-it-yourself yard work or enjoy the hours spent outdoors, the accumulation of lawn care equipment helps them do the job right. And while some may be pricey investments up front, their worth reveals itself in a lovingly tended lawn that is healthy and beautiful. Further, while the price may be high in the beginning, lawn care equipment eventually pays for itself, saving homeowners the expensive – and ongoing – fees paid to professional lawn care services.

One piece of lawn care equipment that is essential to maintaining a healthy and thriving lawn is a reliable lawn mower that will allow you to cut your lawn to your precise height specifications. Any home improvement retail store will likely carry a full line of professional style lawn mowers; make a choice based upon the size of your lawn and features you most require. With larger lawns, a riding lawn mower can be well worth the investment, but if mowing your lawn is also your form of exercise then go ahead and push away!

Another essential piece of lawn care equipment is the tool used to properly aerate a lawn. Experts agree that the frequent aeration of lawns – the upturning of soil – allows the lawn to breath – giving it room to receive plenty of sunlight and water. Compacted soil becomes the consistency of cement and the roots of the grass are literally strangled beneath it. Subsequently, aeration is an important process for lawn care.

Rain can not always be relied upon to provide adequate hydration. Therefore you should always include a standard garden hose – or sprinkler system – as part of your lawn care equipment. In drier times, be sure to give your lawn frequent and ample watering.

For easier seeding and fertilizing in the fall, an important piece of lawn care equipment is a spreader; a simple push device that allows you to evenly distribute appropriate nutrients to your lawn.

The expanse of lawn care equipment is considerable. Speak with a professional at your local home and garden store to narrow down the choices of the most appropriate equipment for your needs.

For easy to understand, in depth information about Lawn Care Equipment visit our ezGuide 2 Lawn Care.

Lawn Care Solutions - The Right Way to Mow Your Lawn!

Lawn Mowers

The way you mow your lawn could mean the difference between a healthy lawn and a very healthy lawn. Most people are not thrilled when they have to mow the lawn or weed it. But these are important lawn maintenance tasks that have to be done.

The first step to mowing the lawn is to buy the right lawn mower. There are many different kinds on the market today.

Push mower -These are probably the oldest lawn mowers in existence, but they are very effective for smaller lawns. You will get no special perks from this mower. With some updated mower, you may be able to change the blade height, but that’s about it.

All you have to do is manually push the mower over the lawn and it will cut the grass. It is important to make sure the grass is dry or it will get caught in the blade and you will have to remove it.

The clippings will fall on the lawn.

You can grab a bag and rake them up, or you can let them decompose and feed your lawn. It’s your choice.

Electric mower - An electric mower is a little easier to use because it is powers by electricity. This means that you will be able to cut your lawn faster than with a push mower. Older electric mowers have a power cord that you will have to plug in order to use. These mowers can be dangerous if you do not remember to look after the cord.

As with the push mower, you will have to clean up the clippings or leave them on your lawn.

Electric cordless mower - These mowers do not have cords which make them much easier to use and do not require you to find an outlet on both sides of the house. Electric cordless mowers also come with a bag that will store lawn clippings. When the bag is full, you will have to empty it. These mowers run on a battery that can be charged easily when not in use.

These mowers can also be used without the bag if you would rather let the lawn clippings fertilize your lawn.

Ride-on mower - For larger lawns, a ride-on mower will help you not run out of energy to complete other tasks around the yard once the mowing is complete.

These mowers have bags that will catch lawn clippings.

Mulching mower - If you want to use your lawn clippings, but do not like the site of them, you should look into investing in a mulching mower. These mowers will ground up lawn clippings so they are not as visible as regular clippings.

How to Mow

Regardless of which lawn mower you purchase, you should learn how to mow the lawn correctly so that you do not do unnecessary damage. You should consider following these tips:

You should mow your lawn when the grass is dry and is about three inches in length. If you mow any sooner, you may end up killing the grass. You will then have to reseed and start all over again. If you don’t want to walk outside each weekend and measure your lawn, you should mow about twice a month or every other weekend during the summertime.

Each time you mow your lawn, you should begin in a different direction. If you mow in the same direction each time, you will end up creating ruts in your lawn. These ruts could destroy your lawn and also make it look run down and unkempt.

Even if you do not want lawn clippings, and have not purchased a mulching mower, maybe you could compromise and only pick up lawn clippings once a month instead of twice. Full of nutrients, lawn clippings will make your lawn healthier.

Mowing the lawn is not difficult, but it should be done correctly so that you can get the most from your lawn during the spring and summer months. The nutrients you feed your lawn during this time will keep your lawn healthy for the entire year. While mowing too much can be a problem, so can not mowing enough. Long grass can cause shorter pieces to not get enough sunlight.

Mow your lawn consistently and you will enjoy a lush lawn all season long. Fertilize it with fertilizers, mulch, compost, and lawn clippings to keep that green alive all year long.

Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com. Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com

I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article.

Lawn Care - Decorating your Lawn with Trees

TREES

What lawn is complete without trees and shrubs? They add color, character, and a sense of history all year long. By planting the right trees and shrubs, you can enjoy different trees each season.

Trees

When deciding where to plant young trees you should:

Decide which older trees will be staying and which ones will not Choose the right areas for the trees Try to incorporate shrubs into the landscape Decide where you want or need the shade Group trees when necessary

Planting the trees and shrubs is easier than deciding where they should go in many cases. You will have to be aware of your surroundings. Do not plant trees that are going to grow very large underneath wires, near utility poles, or too close to your home. You will run into problems later on. Also, if you are planting trees that will drip sap or have sticky flowers, you not plant them near your driveway.

After you have moved into your new how, you should survey the lawn to see if there are older trees that should be taken down. Trees that appear dead should first be inspected by a landscaper and then removed in order to protect those who will be using the lawn. You can choose to replant young trees where the old trees stood, or you can totally change the landscaping and come up with your own creative ideas.

You should research the trees and shrubs before buying them. Some trees, like oak trees are wonderful to have on the lawn, but over time their roots may emerge from the ground. If you plan on living in your home for a long time, you may not want this feature. Buying trees as young as possible will eliminate this problem, but you may have to wait twenty or thirty years before you will truly be able to enjoy them.

Many people enjoy grouping trees of the same kind together. This creates a more woodsy or rustic look. Your landscaper will be able to tell you which trees should be grouped together. Many times birch and popular trees are grouped together because their branches are higher and their trunks are smaller than pine or oak trees.

Trees can also be used for privacy. Buying evergreen trees and using them on the sides or the back of your home will act as a natural fence. You should buy these trees when they are mature and already standing about five or six feet tall. This will give you automatic privacy. For those who want to keep the landscape as natural as possible, but who also want privacy from their neighbors, evergreen trees are the perfect substitute for a wooden or metal fence.

After buying your trees, you should clear the areas where you want to plant them. You should plant two and three year old trees between the months of December and March. You will need to dig a hole using a shovel or a planting bar. This is a device that will make digging into the dirt a lot easier because it has a pointed end. You should remove about a foot and a half to two feet of dirt. Place the tree into the hole and spread out the roots. If they do not fit properly, then you may need to dig a little more.

After placing the tree, you should cover the hole with dirt and pack it firmly so that the tree does not fall over. Care for the tree as per the instructions.

Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com. Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at www.lawnsurgeon.com

I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article.

Lawn Care Solutions - All about Lawn Sculptures

LAWN SCULPTURES

Choosing a lawn sculpture

Lawn sculptures can be very attractive pieces of art for your lawn. There are many different varieties of sculpture you can choose from including:
 

Water fountains
Bird baths
Statues
Figurines
Pillars
 

Of course, unless you are an artist or happen to know one, you will have to order a sculpture from a factory or lawn sculpture supply shop.

While some sculptures can be expensive, you should create a budget and not go over when shopping. You will be amazed at the variety you will have to choose from. When shopping for a sculpture, you should keep in mind the size of your lawn, the types of plants and flowers you already have, and the types you want to plant for the fall or spring weather. You should bring a picture or two of your lawn in order to have a fresh image of it in your mind.

There are many ways to decorate using sculpture:

Make it the focal point of a certain area of your lawn

Surround it with flowers and plants so that it blends with the rest of the lawn

Group one or two sculptures together

Place bird baths and fountains in shaded areas

Use smaller sculptures near driveways and walkways

Vary the use of colored sculptures and concrete sculptures

Lawn Sculpture Maintenance

Caring for your lawn sculptures will depend on the materials they are made from. Lawn sculptures can be made of the following:
 

Stone
Concrete
Metal
Plastic
Wood
 

If choosing sculptures that will need to be stored away during the winter, you should be able to lift them easily or be able to cover them. Otherwise they may be ruined.

During the wintertime, you should look at your sculptures to see if there are any cracks or broken pieces caused by the rain or the snow.

While most lawn sculptures should adopt a certain ‘weathered look’, they should not be falling apart on your property.

Plastic and metal sculptures are usually the easiest to clean because they can be wiped off after a rain storm. Other sculptures will need extra care.

Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com. Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com

I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article.

Lawn Mowing - An Important Component of Total Lawn Care

Mowing lawn is perhaps one of the most important aspects of lawn care. Proper mowing will keep your lawn healthy and green.

When you mow, you are actually clipping off the growing point of the grasses. This is the part where new leaves develop. When this happen, the grasses will branch out and fight for every available space to grow. This will eventually lead to a dense, tightly woven turf.

Mowing is a lawn care process that needs proper knowledge to accomplish. It is not just about cutting off the extra height of the grass.

First you need to understand what type of grass you have in your lawn. In general, there are two types of grasses used for establishing lawn. One is warm season grass and the other is cool season grass. As their names implied, each type of grass prospers under different climate condition.

Each grass type has a specific height that is the optimum for it to be mowed. If you mow that type of grass to the specific height, it would grow healthily and look better. In addition, mowing at the correct height also means that the grass has sufficient leave left for it to absorb water and nutrients. Many lawn care experts believe that the depth of the root system of the lawn grass is directly proportional to the height of mowing. This means that the higher you mow your lawn, the deeper would be the root system of your lawn grass. It also translates into getting more water for your grass and making less effort in watering your lawn.

For cool season grasses such as Fescue, Bluegrass and Ryegrass. they should be mowed at a range of two and a half to three and a half inches of height. Fescue is generally mowed to about three inches in height while Bluegrass should not mowed at less than two and a half inches in height.

For warm season grasses, they can be mowed at a low height as provided by most of the home owned mowers. Some examples of warm season grass include Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede. If you planning to mow these grasses in your lawn, you can try to mow them at about one inch. You should have a smooth grade or else it would not look good.

Lawn mowing helps in keeping the grass alive and makes roots grow deeper. Mowing lawns at a proper height also makes it look better. One of the biggest advantages of mowing lawns is that it saves water and this in turn will save your money and time that could have been spent in watering your lawn.

Jack Greenwood is the webmaster of GreenLawnCareTips.com which provide information on lawn care and mowing. Sign up for your free 7-part Green Lawn Care mini course at http://greenlawncaretips.com today.

Lawn Care - Decorating your Lawn with Shrubs

Shrubs

When most people think of shrubs, they think of green bushes or low lying plants. But there are many different kinds of shrubs. Some of the most common include:
 

Forsythia
Lilac
Rhodendrons
Mountain Laurel
 

These shrubs are very colorful, yet hearty. They will add color and variety to your lawn, and create a contrast between the grass and flowers to create a harmonious and pleasing aspect.

When planting shrubs, you should prepare the area as you would a flower bed. You will be buying small shrubs that will grow over time. Planting is the same as for flowers. Make sure you are packing the soil firmly. For certain types of shrubs, you may need to add fertilizers and nutrients to the soil.

When deciding where to place your shrubs, you should keep them close to your house, near a pile of rocks, or group them together. Lone shrubs make look out of place on the lawn.

Shrubs are used to accent existing plants, trees, and rocks on the lawn. Use them for that extra burst of color.

As with planting any type of greenery, you should properly prepare the soil first. This will reduce your weed population, allow the new plants to adapt to their new surroundings, and will also give your lawn a clean, polished look.

Planting trees and shrubs will add a lot to your lawn. It will complete the look you are going for and will establish your property as a growing lawn. You will be very pleased with the results.

Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com

I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article.