At Dave Greene Estate Care, Inc. we can put together a customized lawn service program just for your lawn. We want to meet your goals and budget needs. Do you want high levels of quality? This may include more frequent mowing, feeding, organics, aeration, weed, insect and disease controls, and more? Or; do you prefer a good basic weed and feed plan?

 

FOR STARTERS:

All good and professional lawn programs should start with a soil test. Nutrient and mineral levels need to be checked and adjusted accordingly. It may take multiple years and applications to get to optimum levels but in doing so you are setting your lawn up to fight disease and many other stresses that will come around from time to time. Your lawn will be able to grow out of trouble more quickly if you pay proper attention to this important task.

 

Feed the lawn at least three times per growing season and at the proper time as well. Your soil test report will guide this process. A balance must be found between good plant color and good plant health without over stimulating the plant. Too little feeding will promote weak growth and more weeds and disease while too much feeding can promote disease and adds unnecessary nutrient loads to the environment.

 

Crabgrass Pre-emergent control should be done in the spring with a follow up 4 to 6 weeks later. 100% control is unrealistic and is not always attained. Organic controls have shown disappointing results.

 

Most other weeds are controlled by post – emergent methods. Many weeds sprout at different times during the growing season, therefore we suggest repeated spot sprays. These start in the spring for dandelions, plantains, etc. with one or two applications. Sedge weeds are treated in late June and early July. Weed control may stop in the heat of the summer as treatments can burn the lawn. Fall is actually the best time to treat broadleaf weeds, right into November. Winter annuals are sprouting in the fall and treated as needed. 80% to 90% control is considered the industry standard.

 

THE NEXT LEVEL:

Core aeration has many benefits and should be done in the spring and again in the fall. This improves drainage and enables more oxygen to get to the roots. Aeration also helps control the “thatch” layer.

 

Additional feeding may be needed to bring your lawn to the next level.

 

Fall over seeding can be done to incorporate new grass plants into the lawn. Older grass plants can decline over time. New seed will also bring the latest disease resistant grass into the mix.

 

ANOTHER STEP FURTHER:

Fungicides can be done preventatively or curatively if you wish to be proactive in fighting fungus diseases in your lawn. 100% control may be elusive depending on the amount of disease pressure that exists.

 

Compost teas can be applied to enhance the organic biodiversity of your soil and in turn creating a super growing environment for your lawn. We brew our own mix with special compost and special brewers. We have seen lawns become more stress tolerant under our compost teas program.

 

Growth regulators can have a place in your lawn program. With small amounts of growth regulator material we can slow the growth of your lawn. Other benefits include: enhanced root growth, less water needs, less mowing, less grass clippings and disease resistance to certain diseases.

 

Annual Blue grass (Poa Annua) control: This is the grass in most lawns that seeds prolifically in the spring. This can be very unsightly during this stage of growth and these grass plants are very weak by nature and are very prone to heat stress and disease. Two treatments in the fall will help to control this plant. Seeding is usually done to replace the Poa Annua as it dies. Control is only on the true annual version of this plant. 100% control may not be attained but it will clean up the lawn quite a bit.

 

Dethatching may be needed in the very thickest lawns with a heavy thatch layer. This can be very beneficial from time to time. This is a very labor intensive job and can be expensive to do.

 

SUMMARY:

There are many levels of service we can bring to your lawn. Ultimately you will need to decide what is right for you.

 

As previously stated lawn products/applications are rarely 100% effective. We are dealing nature and living and growing plants with many micro soil and climate situations. It is normal to have your lawn come through the summer months with some stress related problems. A properly cared for lawn will hold up to stress better and will grow out of trouble rather quickly as the stresses are relieved.

 

For all levels of care it is vital to mow and water properly. This cannot be overstated.

 

Other factors that will determine the level of lawn quality:

Shade and light amounts are very important. Too much shade and too little light can be a very limiting factor. Prune, thin and remove trees as needed.

 

Air circulation is very important. Poor air circulation goes hand in hand with disease problems. Prune, thin and remove trees as needed.

 

Soil is extremely important but very often overlooked when building a new lawn. Is it sandy? Is it clay? Does it drain properly? Is the soil pH in the proper range? Soil issues can be a very limiting factor.

 

Grass variety: Do you have quality grasses in your lawn? If not your lawn may have a very low upside.

 

It is important to understand that a good lawn maintenance program cannot guarantee that your lawn will never have a problem. That would be unrealistic. You may do all the right things your doctor tells you to do but you may still get a head cold or the flu. Lawns are similar in that way. A lawn that is well cared for will resist many problems and will grow out of a problem much faster.