An informed person doesn’t need to pay a professional landscaper for basic lawn care. However the normal watering and mowing routine is not enough for an immaculate yard. Kansas City landscapers use a spectrum of proactive services which are needed for that ideal yard.
You must understand what the plant’s need as a first step in cultivating the yard. Correctly treating each section of the lawn, both above ground and below, means the lawn will get what is requires in the right time and right way. Simply being aware of the lawn’s needs isn’t the end of the matter however. You must also know how to meet them.
Preparing the top layer of soil is always the first step professional Kansas City Landscapers take. Conditioning the soil so that it has the right balance of sand, clay and organic matter will provide a loamy texture. The purpose 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 Oxygen.
The next step in soil-preparation is the acidity of the soil. Simple test kits are available from most Kansas City landscaping stores. Once you know which level you are at, use lime or ash to alkalize (raise) and compost or manure to acidify (lower) the pH. Most lawns are subject to become to acidic and need to be brought to nearly neutral (6.9 pH). For help on what to use and how to use it, talk to a Kansas City landscaping shop.
Kansas City’s heavy rainstorms and ice-storms pull the protective layer of soil away, which can eventually harm grass roots. These can be deadly to areas of your lawn if not taken care of properly. Water left standing too long can suffocate roots and leaves or promote disease. Grass that is not well-rooted will be killed by fast-moving water and the essential top layer of soil will be removed. Use extra soil to re-grade steep or bowl-shaped areas. Installing sod in steeper areas or utilizing landscaping technology like erosion blankets can help in especially steep areas.
After the soil has been prepared and graded you will want to cover any bare spots (or even plant the lawn itself). You will have a huge variety of grasses to choose from and can either spread it as seed or install it as sod. If you need to mix varieties of grass or simply fix a few patches, seed is your best bet. If you want an instant lawn, sod can’t be beat.
A great way to find out which varieties of grass will grow well in your yard is to spread several seed varieties and see which one thrives the best. One variety may grow well in one area that is heavily shaded and another may grow well a few feet away in a full-sun area. Using several seed varieties together is a typical approach used by Kansas City landscapers to combat the varied conditions in the local region. If additional landscaping or advice is needed you should contact a professional.
Proper watering is more crucial for your lawn than maybe any other issue. Kansas City landscapers view each yard as unique and watering as a science that is just as varied in application. Too much water too often can result in fungus or a layer of dead grass called thatch. The soil conditioning plays the largest role in deciding how to water. If it drains too quickly without retaining water or does not drain well you will have to adjust. You shouldn’t need to water more than once per week, except in extreme cases.
Thatch will need annual or semi-annual attention. The yard can switch into a different mode of growth that leaves bare areas of soil that are covered with debris. At the same time, it is healthy for the lawn to have a small layer of thatch unseen beneath the grass leaves.
Often times this means even a prospering lawn needs a de-thatching. Expert landscapers in Kansas City highly recommend you de-thatch by using a power-rake. If this is not easily obtained a stiff-toothed hand-rake will also work. This is simply meant to rake the dead layer of grass up out of the living grass and remove it. Remove the thatch with a mower or by hand, and don’t just mulch it back into the yard.
Rain, snow, frost and foot-traffic is going to gradually compact the soil. Grass roots will then be impaired as they attempt to draw water and nutrients- a serious barrier in growing a beautiful lawn.
Aeration is the remedy Kansas City landscapers use to fix this condition. The aerator creates a series of holes that ease this compression and simulate the normal foraging and breaking up of soil found in nature. This will let the roots exchange water and nutrients properly.
Kansas City landscapers always apply a weed-preventative chemical known as a “pre-emergent” in the early Spring. This chemical stops a crucial enzyme process that makes weed-seeds germinate. This will give the grass a distinct edge over competing plants that will steal nutrients, water, and sunshine.
Every living thing needs nutrition and your lawn is no exception. Erosion, wind, the sun, and bagging grass while mowing all remove nitrogen and other nutrients from the soil over time. You must replenish these nutrients if your grass is going to be properly nourished, and therefore be healthy. Kansas City landscapers advocate feeding the yard twice every year. You can feed the lawn with chemicals or, the better option, garden compost and manure.
Bear in mind that fertilizing should be done when the grass isn’t too long so that the nutrients reach the soil, otherwise the nutrient will not be uniformly spread. Additionally, 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. It’s important to point out that Kansas City landscapers and lawn-care pros usually set their equipment higher than many people would because of the problems grass experiences when it is cut too close to the ground.
Every year Kansas City landscapers use a fungicide for preventing the spread of disease. If your whole yard does not get full sun throughout the day it will be particularly vulnerable. Even after treating the yard, be watchful.
It is as true in life as it is in landscaping, diligence and working hard in the good times will give you the extra assistance you need in tough times. There is no alternative for a vibrant yard as the best way to prevent problems. A yard that has bad roots and soil will be prone to disease and pests and eventually need complete replacement.
As you strategize, keep each of the steps above in mind. Stick to a good plan and give yourself plenty of time to reach your goals. Nobody said it would be easy but it usually is more than worth it. And there are few activities that will so quickly and completely become a source of joy and value for you and your household. So get out there and enjoy the hard work!
If you have to understand more about yard care, you should certainly take a look at this website for landscapers in KC.