Why do I need a lawn maintenance program?
Landscape maintenance includes mowing of lawn’s, edging areas bordered by sidewalks, curbs and driveways, removing clippings and organic material caused by mowing and edging from sidewalk, curbs, driveways and other surfaced areas, pruning bushes, shrubs and ornamental trees, trimming perennials, grasses and ground covers, leaf removal and planting bed maintenance. Most homeowners are too busy to provide the constant care usually necessary to maintain an attractive turf. An effective maintenance program involves fertilization, watering, mowing, and cultivation. A lawns appearance, after it has been established depends on a sound maintenance program.
What does landscape maintenance cost?
Stony Hill Landscaping determines the cost for maintenance service based on the size of your lawn, planting beds and the amount of pruning required. Give us a call to receive a free estimate of cost for maintenance for your property. We will survey your property, evaluate the property’s needs, and develop a proposal that is customized to your specific circumstances.
What is the benefit to mowing my grass weekly, opposed to every other week?
When the grass is actively growing, you should mow often enough so you never cut more than one third of the grass blade each time. For cool season grasses, the peak time for top growth is in the spring and you will need to cut it weekly at a minimum. Waiting two weeks to mow could result in stressing the lawn, and promoting diseases.
What do I do with the grass clippings?
If you are mowing regularly and not removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade height, clippings can be left on the lawn and will provide a nutrient source to the grass plant as the organic material decays. When leaving clippings on the lawn, it is important to check the thickness of thatch. A thatch layer greater than 1 inch may prevent the clippings from reaching the soil. In this case, you will need to bag the clippings or de-thatch your lawn.
Do I need to aerate? When?
If you have never aerated, your turf likely needs it. Aeration punches 2″-3″ deep holes through thatch, turf, and compacted clay soil. Core aerators then deposit these plugs on top of the turf, where they eventually decompose. This allows for air, nutrients, and water to reach the roots of your lawn. We recommend doing this twice a year. Best times to aerate are spring and fall.
The benefits include:
- Reduces soil compaction
- Improves grass rooting
- Promotes thatch breakdown
- Improves drought tolerance
- Enhanced fertilizer uptake
- Lime and fertilizer penetrate the soil much faster
What are the benefits of Over-seeding?
For large bare and damaged areas we recommend over-seeding, this will fill in thin areas in your lawn. After aeration is a great time to over-seed your lawn.
The benefits include:
- Helps to thicken lawn and fill in thin weak areas
- Incorporates seed varieties that grow well in both sun and shade
- Introduces healthy young grass that can better resist heat and drought stress
How often should I water my lawn?
A lawn should be watered for about one inch per week, so how much water does my lawn need? The answer is that it usually takes up to 45 minutes to get a half inch of water with an in-ground irrigation system on a lawn with good water drainage. Watering 3 times per week equals to an inch of water on a lawn. Watering in July and August with high outdoor temps may require longer periods of watering.