Capabilities
A well established
lawn is a valuable
asset to any home but
it cannot remain that way without a certain amount of regular maintenance.
Grass is a perennial plant that must have a complete growth
environment if it is to successfully grow and maintain itself and
store food for over wintering.
A grass plant has many factors operating against it in its
struggle for survival. Included are weeds, disease, winter damage,
soil compaction,
moisture stress, and nutrient stress. Effective lawn maintenance
includes all activities
which can reduce or eliminate these stress factors.
Fertilizing & Liming
Fertility management is an important part of maintaining a
healthy lawn. Adequate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and
potassium are important in leaf growth, root development and disease
resistance. During lawn establishment a complete analysis fertilizer
should be incorporated into the soil to meet initial nutrient
demands. The nutrient ratio as well as the total amount added should
determined through soil testing. Initial incorporation
of lime is also on soil testing.
Maintenance applications of fertilizer and lime should
based
on soil test results. Grass requires nitrogen for leaf blade
growth but
much of it can be
lost from the soil through leaching after heavy rain or excessive
irrigation. Phosphorous and potassium are attracted to and held by
clay and organic matter in the soil. Movement of phosphorus and
potassium through most soils is slow. It is very important to incorporate
them into the soil during initial lawn establishment. Subsequent
applications of fertilizer should be aimed primarily at: 1)
resupplying adequate amounts of nitrogen lost through grass growth,
mowing and removal and other factors, and 2) maintaining adequate
levels of phosphorous, potassium and other essential elements. This
can be
done by
applying a complete fertilizer such as 10-20-10,
8-32-16
or 16-16-16 as soon as growth starts in the spring at a rate of 6 to
7 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Later applications
of a high nitrogen fertilizer such as ammonium nitrate (34-0-0),
urea (46-0-0)
or 22-4-4
are used to insure continued leaf growth throughout the growing
season. Recent Alaska based
research indicates that late summer or fall applications of nitrogen
may allow grass to increase winter hardiness and to green-up
earlier in the spring. If lime is needed for reestablishing
the proper pH it should be
added in late fall or very early spring. Use several light
applications rather than one heavy application if a large amount is
needed. Maintaining
a pH of 6.0 is very adequate for most turf grasses.
Weeds
Weed problems
do occur in many lawns and often become
established
when the weed outcompetes the grass. Maintaining a thick, healthy
stand of grass is the best
method of weed prevention. Physical removal or the use of
appropriate herbicides
may necessary to eliminate more extensive weed problems.
A compact soil or one that has been
subjected
to heavy pedestrian or vehicular traffic results in weeds rather
than grass having the growth advantage.
Herbicides
Herbicides for lawn weed control can be found at your local
garden supply store. Most are selective against broad
leaf plants. This requires extreme care when using these products
around ornamentals, trees, flower beds and greenhouses. Prevent
spray drift into garden areas and onto adjoining property. Weed and
feed fertilizers can also cause damage to flowers, shrubs, and
trees.
Watering
Watering should be based
on soil texture, weather and plant growth rate. If the soil dries
out, the lawn should receive sufficient water to moisten the top 2
to 3 inches of soil. Water is important for all life processes and
water stress can impair the overall health and growth of your lawn.
Water availability
is especially important for healthy root growth. An application of
up to 1" of water per week may necessary during dry summer
weather.
Mowing
Mowing is important in insuring that a lawn maintains a neat,
groomed appearance. It also affects the growth and health of the
lawn. Grass should maintained at a height of 2 to 21⁄2
inches. It should not be
allowed to grow too tall between
cuttings because
it takes longer for the plant to recover when all of the leaf blade
or the majority of it is removed. Mowing should remove no more than
one-third
to one-half
of the leaf blade
surface at any one time.
Thatch
Under Alaska’s cool growing conditions, grass clippings may
accumulate in a lawn faster than they can decompose. When this
happens, a layer of thatch builds
up which can insulate the soil, contribute
to potential disease problems,
and increase drought and winter damage susceptibility because
new grass plants grow in the thatch layer rather than in the soil. A
mulching lawn mower increases surface area and decomposition rate of
the grass clippings but they may still accumulate and create thatch
under certain conditions.
Lawn Repair
There are occasions when portions of the lawn may decline or die-out
due to weather, disease, or soil conditions. If the areas are small
they can often be
over seeded with a suitable variety or mix. Prior to seeding, the
areas should prepared. Dead grass and thatch can removed with a
rake. The soil surface can then raked to allow for good soil to seed
contact. A thin layer of soil or sand may also be
put down to create a new seedbed. New commercial products that
combine a fibrous mulch and grass seed can simplify this process.
If extensive areas of the lawn die, it may indicate that the
grass variety is not suitable for that site. The entire lawn may
have to tilled and prepared for reseeding with a different variety
of grass. Other options include hydro-seeding
or sodding.
Let’s face it, not all
Lawn Maintenance Companies are alike. Give us the
opportunity to meet with you and get a Quote. Please use this Feedback
/ Information Request Form and make your request in the
Comments Section and someone will contact you.
A well maintained lawn reflects the pride and
dedication of the owner.
You are the key to bringing about that result.
Reference Accounts
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