Landscaping

Medina Ohio Asks: Is this Crabgrass?

Crabgrass Defined 

For an annual weed, crabgrass certainly gets much attention. Crabgrass can turn what was a great looking lawn into a nightmare in the matter of just a few weeks. It grows from seed each year when the soil warms to about 55 or higher for at least a week in the spring but grows most rapidly during the heat of summer. The seed will usually germinate faster in bare soil areas or places near sidewalks or other places where the earth will warm up more quickly. A thick and healthy dense lawn is usually not where crabgrass will be most found because it does not compete well with taller plants or shade.

 

Crabgrass has coarser grass blades than typical lawn grasses and are also usually lighter green in color so the crabgrass plants are quite noticeable. Crabgrass usually has a low growing habit that spreads out along the ground. It will cover a somewhat circular area up to a foot wide but it can also grow up to 2 feet tall in some situations. As the stems arch over and grow along the ground, they will often produce roots at the nodes along the stems. It is very difficult to pull out a mature crabgrass plant because of all of those extra roots that the plant produces. After the stems elongate they begin flowering, usually starting about the beginning of August and continuing until a hard frost kills the plant. The flower heads looks like a hand with the fingers pointing upward. Seeds will ripen within a few weeks with each individual plant capable of producing 1,500 seeds.

Grassy Weed or Broadleaf

Control of crabgrass in Medina lawns is of primary concern for most homeowners that spend lots of money each year trying to prevent crabgrass from growing in their lawns. There are several active ingredients that are effective in crabgrass prevention, but one should check the label to be sure that products they are applying is in fact for crabgrass prevention and not for the control of broadleaf weeds. Those products will have no effect in controlling crabgrass. Commercial lawn care companies may also be able to apply the crabgrass prevention products alone, not in combination with a fertilizer but those products are usually not available to home owners.

Prevention

Crabgrass prevention products are usually quite effective if they are applied at the right time. People often refer to the time when lilacs or Forsythia are blooming as an indicator as to the proper time to apply the product to their turf. If you apply it too early or not enough, it may lose its effectiveness before the end of the summer, allowing for a late flush of crabgrass to emerge and grow. But, if you wait too long in the spring to apply it, you might miss the first wave of seedling germination and still have a major crabgrass problem. Once the seedlings are up and growing these products will not kill the seedlings. Crabgrass preventers will also prevent other kinds of weed seeds from germinating, like the grass seed that you might apply that spring or summer to fill in bare areas or to thicken and existing grass. If you plan to do some seeding, do it late in the fall to avoid problems with spring applied crabgrass preventers or simply choose not use them at all in those areas.

There are a very few post emergence crabgrass killing herbicides available. They can be effective but they need to be applied shortly after the crabgrass seedlings have emerged from the lawn. Once the plants begin to produce multiple stems control is greatly reduced which will make you unhappy because post emergent control is very expensive to apply.  Another very important aspect of crabgrass control is to maintain a healthy lawn in Medina that is properly fertilized, watered and mowed.

 

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Akron Ohio, Do you want to defeat grubs?

Defeating Grubs & Saving Your Lawn in Akron Ohio

Grubs are public enemy # 1 when it comes to insects that can damage your lawn in Akron Ohio. They can destroy huge portions of healthy lawns in a matter of days or weeks. They are larvae of different kinds of beetles, including Japanese and Masked Chafer Beetles. They feed on grass roots killing the grass in large patches. White grubs will become active when the soil warms up, and they destroy lawns from late spring to early fall. The only way to effectively get rid of grubs and keep them out is yearly treatments.

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THEM?

It is not hard to tell that grubs have invaded your yard. But by the time you see the evidence, it may be way too late. The grass appears to wilt and turns brown in large, irregular patches in the lawn. Brown areas of grass roll up smoothly like a carpet would. Birds and animals may be digging in the lawn. Milky white grubs from 1/8″ to 1″long, with brown heads and three pairs of legs, lie curled in the soil.
To find out if you have a problem, peel back a square foot of turf. If you see six or more of them, it’s time for immediate action. You want to apply your lawn treatment when grubs are newly hatched or before. That’s because they’re easier to control when they are small.

PREPARE YOUR LAWN FOR A TREATMENT IN AKRON OH

By taking some steps to prepare your lawn before treating it, you can make it easier for the treatment to work in the lawn. That’s why it helps to mow your lawn before a treatment.
Also, if you have more than a half an inch of thatch, it could get in the way of the treatment. You’ll want to core aerate your lawn first.

WRAPPING UP

Grubs are a formidable opponent, but with some knowledge of their life cycle and the right treatments, you can gain the upper hand and take back your lawn.

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(330) 933-2222 
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Richfield Ohio residents ask, Can my lawn effect my homes resale value?

Your lawn will effect your homes resale value in Richfield OH

Americans Love their Lawns and how Important it is to a Resale Value

According to the survey commissioned by the National Association of Landscape Professionals and conducted by Harris Poll, eighty-three percent of Americans think having a great lawn is important. Here are a few of the insights about the value of our lawns and backyards in Richfield Ohio.
Your neighborhood landscaping is important. Americans (91%) want to live in an area where they can see and or walk to nice landscaping. So if you want the best chance of increasing the price of your home in your neighborhood, make sure the landscaping looks great.

Nice landscaping helps to sell your house quickly in Richfield Ohio. Eighty-four percent say that the quality of a home’s landscaping would affect their decision about whether or not to buy the property. Great neighborhood landscaping helps, but it isn’t enough; yours needs to look great also.
Your neighbors care what your landscape looks like. Seventy-one percent think it is important that their neighbors have well-maintained yards.

Enjoying your yard

Perhaps “good landscaping makes good neighbors” should be the new angle.
We want to enjoy our yards. Seventy-five percent of people feel that it is important to spend time outside.
Despite a common misperceptions, even Millennials want to spend time in their yards. Seventy-five percent of Millennials (18–34 year olds) think spending time outside in their yards is very important.

People want help with their landscape. A large majority of Americans (67%) agree that professional landscaper or lawn care service would help would allow them to have a better yard.

Ready to find out more?

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(330) 933-2222 
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Clinton, Ohio Know why you should get the leaves off the lawn

Why You Should We Get Leaves Off Our Lawns in Clinton Ohio

Cleaning Up Leaves

Leaves are always the symbol of the fall season in Clinton OH. Even though it is fun romping in the leaves, or looking at the fall leaves color on
the trees, picking up the leaves in your yard is not quite as much fun. It is however, an important part of good lawn care and maintenance. So what do you need to know about cleaning up fall leaves and what effect it can have on your lawn?

Why should we remove fall leaves Clinton OH

There are several reasons why removing the leaves from your lawn is so important to the lawns success and why it should be completed. The first is that it is very healthy for your lawn to clean them up. Leaves lying on your grass will block out sunlight, and potentially hurt the life and health of your lawn. The second is that the more you procrastinate on getting rid of the leaves, the longer it will take, and a bigger job it will eventually become. So make it your goal to eradicate the leaves on the lawn multiple times in the fall.

When leaves start falling, blow, rake or bag them off the lawn. Making sure your yard is free of leaves not only improves the appearance, but influences the health of your lawn. Leaves compromise the lawn needs in the fall as it stores up food for its winter nap.
No matter the reason it is clear that keeping leaves off of your lawn, is an important part of proper lawn care.

Ready to find out more?

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(330) 933-2222 
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North Canton, Ohio residents ask, what can a healthy lawn do for me?

In North Canton Ohio You will be surprised what a healthy lawn can do for you

A well maintained lawn can help to provide a healthy, pleasant environment for you, your family and your community in North Canton OH. Here are some interesting facts about lawns that you may not be aware of and will be glad you learned about in North Canton OH:

• A 50' x 50' healthy lawn will produce enough daily oxygen for a family of four.
• Grass is a natural air conditioner by absorbing the suns heat it creates.
• Grass cleans the air, absorbing pollutants and returns pure oxygen in exchange to the air.
• A healthy green lawn naturally deters allergy-causing weed pollen.
• Biting and stinging insects are found less often in lawns that are in good health and are free of weeds.
• Noises are reduced in areas where lawns are present. Because soft surfaces absorb sound, while hard surfaces reflect it.
Thick turf filters surface water before it returns to ground water supply.
• Grass is as a natural barrier for soil erosion caused by wind and water.

Ready to find out more?

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(330) 933-2222 
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Firestone Park, Ohio Residents ask about the importance of regular mowing.

Importance of mowing regularly in Firestone Park OH

Why is mowing the lawn regularly important?

Most homeowners understand the importance of mowing and trimming to add beauty to their property in Firestone Park OH. Many do not realize the vital role maintenance plays in the actual health of the lawn.

One of the most important aspects of a well established lawn is mowing on a regular basis. When the lawn is left uncut for extended periods of time, it allows weeds to to mature. This allows them to spread seeds and produce more weeds. With a regular mowing schedule, it not only prevents the weeds from maturing and producing seeds but it allows the grass itself to flourish and assist in choking out the weeds for the nutrients the weeds need to grow.

Keep the lawn healthy with regular maintenance

Another important reason for having the lawn mowed often and on a schedule is how grass reacts when it is cut. With almost all kinds of grasses, cutting off more than 1/3 of the length of a grass blade is very stressful for the lawn. Everyone has seen lawns that has been left untamed for an extended period of time. When it is finally cut to the proper height, the lawn will turn yellowish-brown color. This will weaken the lawn severely and can stunt the grasses growth, but can also be deadly to portions of the lawn or possibly all of it.

Ready to find out more?

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(330) 933-2222 
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A Comprehensive Look At Commercial Equipment For Wadsworth, Ohio Residents

Why do commercial mowers cut so fast and the lawn looks so great compared to my residential tractor or zero turn mower in Wadsworth Ohio?

Commercial Grade Mowers

Commercial mowers can cost as much as a compact car. In our area the mowing season is usually 30 to 35 weeks depending on the weather we have here in Wadsworth Ohio. A full time lawn care provider usually cuts somewhere between 70 to 100 lawns in a week in Wadsworth OH. A commercial mower will mow around 3000 lawns in a single year. Compared to a homeowner mower of mowing around 30 mows in a year. So a commercial mower does up to 100 years worth of mowing in a year compared to a residential model. Their steel will be 3 to 4 times thicker over residential grade mower. All other components are made for harsh commercial settings to take the abuse they need to take to provide a reliable service for the contractor and their customers.

Engineering of equipment

Commercial mower manufactures spend countless hours of engineering and millions of dollars designing the perfect mower decks. They are able to design completely different decks compared to residential models because of the thickness of steel and engines that are installed on commercial mowers. Even when a residential grade engine has the same horsepower rating as a commercial engine. The commercial engine will always have a higher blade tip speed and torque rating. A higher blade tip speed simply spins the mower blades faster and this is called blade tip speed. Usually 2 to 3 times faster over a residential model.

Commercial equipment will often have heavier blades on verses a residential deck with more blades spinning in the same size mower deck. By having multiple blades versus one and having a higher blade tip speed allows the deck to have more suction. Which in turn cuts the grass clippings into smaller pieces, more suction to stand the grass up better, leave stripes in the grass and will leave a more level cut. More torque gives it the ability to power through thicker or taller grass and is always helpful when it come to fall leaf clean ups.

Commercial mowers use individual hydraulic pumps and motors for each drive tire to power it. The same hydraulics seen in all heavy duty industrial or construction equipment. This makes the equipment reliable, agile and very fast combined with the commercial grade engines. Due to the quality of construction, added safety features and specific engineering of commercial mowers they have perfected hill side stability very well. This allows the operators to safely climb hills, banks and ditches that a normal garden tractor or residential grade Zero-Turn could not or should not due to the risk of sliding or rolling over.

Residential vs Commercial Equipment

So in reflection it's just completely unreasonable for a homeowner to purchase commercial grade mower but a necessity for a mowing contractor to purchase. Typical residential grade mowers are designed to hold up for about 300 mows and never designed to be bounced around in a commercial environment or on a trailer. Residential mowers would not hold up for a long in a commercial environment but a homeowner with a commercial mower will be passing on the mower 10 generations down in their family!

Even though a commercial mower is expensive at first for a contractor they get their monies worth out of it eventually. This why they can be very reasonably priced to customers because of the longevity of the mower and speed. The maintenance intervals also help the contractor because they need maintained less frequently than a residential mower. Many times it is cheaper to hire a mowing contractor to mow your lawn than doing mowing yourself. Plus hiring a professional with commercial equipment will produce better results on your lawn.

Ready to find out more?

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(330) 933-2222 
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Tip for Fairlawn, Ohio residents on growing grass in shaded areas

Growing Grass in Shady Areas in Fairlawn Ohio

Shade Lawns

If you have a lawn with shady areas in Fairlawn OH, you may find it very difficult to grow grass in those areas. This is one of the most common problems with lawns in Fairlawn OH. Grass needs at the very least 4 hours of sunlight a day to be able to grow. The shortage of sun on the lawn will impact on the photosynthesis process. The grass cannot get enough energy it needs to grow. This will result in reduce of vigor and the grasses cannot resist disease, stress, insects or weather condition that change.

You can improve the situation by trimming some of nearby shrubs and trees to let in more sun into the grass. Cut down tree branches as much as possible, as long as it does not destroy the beauty of the tree and the landscape. Before planting new trees, consider the number of existing trees, the density of those trees, and the light intensity decreased by the new trees planted. Keep in mind that shade trees should be planted 50 to 100 feet apart. This will also assist in getting water to the grass which is obviously another important part of its health.

Shade Tolerant Grass

Fine fescue and bluegrass are very tolerant shade species of grass. Fine fescue can grow good in shaded areas that are dry. Bluegrass prefers a constantly wet soil. For moderately shady areas, tall fescue may tolerate the conditions also.

Growing grass in shady areas is very possible if the basic requirements for its growth is known and clearly understood. The competition of the 3 factors being water, nutrients, and light. The fundamental cause of grass growing failure under shady conditions. To improve grass in shaded areas, please follow all the guidelines above because they are all important and have a critical role in keeping the grass in shaded areas looking good and healthy.

If there are areas that are just too challenging to get sun and water to, they could always be turned into a flower bed. Then plant drought resistant plants that enjoy shade or even go with a shade loving ground cover plant..

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Proper Mowing Techniques for Akron, Ohio Residents

Scalping the lawn will harm the grass-blades in Akron Ohio

Proper Lawn Mowing

Mowing your lawn properly is an easy ways to fight off weeds and diseases in your lawn. When you mow the grass at its recommended height it helps get the sunlight and vital nutrients needed to be lush and healthy. Mowing it too short and scalping can have some pretty serious repercussions. Scalping can weaken and even kill off your lawn. Additionally, mowing too short will limit the grasses nutrient supply, giving weeds free reign to move in.

How Scalping Will Affect Your Grass in Akron OH

Grass is able to survive thanks to photosynthesis, which is the process of taking the sunlight and using it as the energy it needs. Cutting too much of the grass blade limits the ability of the lawn to store this energy, restricting its nutrient supply and ultimately choking the grass. Not sure if you are scalping your grass? If your lawn is so short that its grass stem is exposed, it is too short.

What Will Make Scalping Worse

One of the worst contributing factors to scalping and damaging the grass is mowing with a dull lawn mower blade. The next time you mow, take a look at your grass after. If it looks torn or frayed, your mower blade will need sharpened. You can buy a blade sharpener at most home improvement or garden centers. Additionally, scalping the grass in the heat of summer will seriously hinder the lawns ability to recover. Since hot and dry weather already stresses lawns, scalping will most only make matters worse.

Mowing Tips for Akron OH

It's better for your grass to be too long than too short. It is also helpful to leave grass clippings on your lawn instead of bagging them. Decomposed grass clippings will return precious nutrients to the soil. Overlap your mowing path by one to three inches, as this will keep the lawn at a consistent height and ensure that it all gets mowed.

Repairing the Lawn

If you realize you have been scalping your lawn, let your lawn grow gradually back to its proper height, never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. Additionally, you will want to water deeply and infrequently to help the grass recover.

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Tips For Watering Your Lawn In Canton, Ohio

Watering the Lawn

Tips on watering your lawn in Canton Ohio

You should be watering for 30-40 minutes per section 2-3 times per week in Canton OH. This gives your lawn a good
deep root watering every time. This allows the water to seep all the way down to the root system and promotes deep root growth. This also will ensure that the lawn is getting the proper amounts of nutrients that it needs. You only need to water a few times a week when you water for long periods. The lawn will take a longer period of time for the soil to dry out.

Busting Myths

It is a common myth that the more water is always better. This is not the case, the more water in your lawn the more issues you can be bringing to your lawn. By using so much water your lawn you run the risk of leaving moisture in the lawn encouraging fungal growth, or you could flood the lawn with water and wash away nutrients that the lawn needs to survive.

Especially in the Summer when the lawn can be under an enormous amount of heat stress in Canton Ohio. The last thing the lawn needs is our cultural practices adding to the stress and making more problems. For example, if your mowing the lawn with a mower with dull blades that are not cutting the lawn properly and will cause the blades of grass to become jagged and those jagged edges are what creates a better opening for the disease to enter into your lawn. Or mowing the lawn to short and scalping can cause browning and thinning of the grass making the lawn more of a target for lawn disease, weeds, and insect damage.

A full, thick lawn is always the best defense to all these lawn problems.
If you start to notice your grass suffering from heat stress you should focus on cultural practices. Make sure you have a proper and effective schedule for watering. Also, make sure the lawn is being mowed at the proper height and with sharp blades. If your grass does become dormant because of the weather and you begin to water, you need to then continually water the lawn regularly.

The lawn uses up its food reserve in the root system to become active again. You need to give it the time that it needs to regain that reserve and not cause further stress. Please do remember that a great healthy lawn takes time and patience. In some cases, it could take a lawn up to a month to start showing signs of “life” again and green up. It is greatly recommended to reseed your lawn after the drought and heat stress has subsided in the Fall months. For a wonderful landscape it is important to keep up with rejuvenating the grass, and keeping your lawn young to fight off the stresses a lawn will endure.

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