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Lawn care is the most
underrated task in the “green world”. Even mowing a lawn is underrated. People
think “Oh, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to mow a lawn”, but it
actually requires a great deal of knowledge and muscle. Pushing a big 48 inch
mower isn’t easy. I’ve seen guys go through fences, over perennials and almost
the family dog. This is why I have started “Hampton Greenskeeper” lawn service.
We are knowledgeable about turf and we take each customers needs seriously. I
have outlined a 8 month care program. If you follow this, you will have a
beautiful green lawn in two years.
March 15
After the last big snow storm, rent a power rake or have your lawn care service
follow these 8 steps. Power rake the entire lawn. Have the soil PH tested. If
your soil is too acidic, add lime at the recommended rate. I prefer pelletized
limestone. It’s only a few pennies more but it is so much easier to apply.
Aeration. This will help the grass to hold water, improve fertilizer uptake and
reduce soil compaction. I like to aerate twice a year...in April and October.
Turf responds best when core holes are close and deep. I like the Ryan Lawnaire
28 with 16 holes per square foot. Make sure all sprinkler heads are flagged
first.
May
Fertilize at the recommended rate. There are organics for a few cents more. I
use dehydrated manure. This is a smelly job but your lawn and worms will love
it.
May, June, July
This is grub control time. Grubs are those little round bugs that the crows eat
in late fall. They are also the Japanese beetles that devour all of your roses
in July and the reason that moles and voles dig tunnels all over the yard. Go to
your local garden center and just say “grubs”. They will know what to give you.
I look for the most organic grub control on the market.
This is the best time to put down crabgrass control if the temperature isn’t too
hot. Never put down chemicals during the hottest part of the day and never when
the temperature is over 90 degrees. The time to water, water, water. Most lawn companies say you can’t have a good
lawn without an in-ground irrigation system. If you don’t have irrigation,
having a beautiful lawn will require a lot of work moving hoses around the yard.
20 minutes a day in the hottest times of the summer is the recommended amount.
In the fall, every day until November 15th.
Lawns are a lot of work.
You must watch the amount of rain. Too much of a good thing is more damaging
than not enough. Most irrigation companies have a rain shutoff valve. If you
don’t have one, ask for one. This will change your life.
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