Are you frustrated with cookie-cutter lawn care services that don’t take your lawn’s unique needs into consideration? Here’s what you need to know about tailoring a lawn care service to suit your needs in Glenview IL.
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Your Soil
Soil can differ greatly from home to home, depending on whether soil was brought in after the home was constructed, or whether the soil has been amended, or whether it is regularly fertilized. No lawn care service should start before testing your soil because an overabundance of nutrients can be just as detrimental to your lawn’s health as a deficiency. Soil testing should be conducted twice a year: once in spring to prepare the turf grass for vigorous growth of a healthy root system; and once in the fall to prepare the lawn to overwinter well. Healthy growth will minimize the need for herbicides and pesticides. Healthy grass begins with healthy soil, and you can’t always tell just by looking at the grass because nutrient levels can fluctuate from year to year: a lawn that looks lush and green one year may suddenly start suffering the next year, for no obvious reason.
Mowing Frequency and Height
A good lawn care service will tailor their visits to the rate at which grass grows, and the height to which you want it mowed. Mowing may be necessary once or twice a week in the height of the growing season.
But again, every lawn is different. Sun exposure, surface water, watering frequency, soil quality, foot traffic and other variables can cause differences in growth rates from one neighbor’s lawn to the next! A good lawn care service will assess your lawn and make recommendations based on this assessment.
Aeration and Dethatching
This is a basic part of lawn care that may be overlooked by companies that only focus on “mowing and blowing.” Aeration loosens compacted soil to allow water and nutrients to penetrate to the roots. Dethatching removes the accumulation of dead grass around the roots, again to allow water and nutrients to reach the roots. Lack of aeration and dethatching results in grass that struggles to survive; but not all lawns need it frequently. A lawn that sees heavy use from pets and kids, or a sun-baked lawn with little shade, will need aeration more frequently than a lawn in a moist, shady area that sees little foot traffic.
Edging
Crisp, attractive edges put the finishing touches on a beautiful lawn. However, not all homeowners like the “buzz cut” approach and prefer softer, more natural edging that is achieved using physical barriers such as plastic, metal, or brick edging that keeps grass from encroaching into plant beds or hardscapes, but allows grass blades to hang slightly over the barrier. Which type of edging do you prefer? Your lawn care service should perform edging services that are right for you.
Fertilizing and Weeding
The never-ending battle against weeds begins with using the right fertilizer to support thick turf grass growth that naturally repels weeds. However, not all areas of the lawn are always dense enough to prevent weeds, which means using pre-emergent and post-emergent weed killers. If you’re a homeowner who only uses organic and natural fertilizers and weed killers, you want to be sure that your lawn care service honors your wishes.
As you can see, every lawn is as unique as its owner. Different care requirements mean different approaches and time lines. At Joe and Tony, we take lawn care seriously, with the emphasis on “care.” Let us tailor a custom lawn care plan that’s perfect for you!
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