Lawn Care Harrisburg PA is the overall treatment of your lawn to improve its health and appearance. This includes fertilization, weed control, and turf disease management.
Organic lawn care is a process that relies on good soil health and cultural practices rather than synthetic chemicals. A soil test and a regular program of mowing, watering and overseeding will build healthy, sustainable grass.
Mowing is a basic aspect of lawn care. Not only does it provide for a pleasing, manicured appearance but also it promotes lateral grass growth, which increases shoot density and thickness. It also reduces vermin. Rodents and ticks prefer to hide in taller plant material. Likewise, they do not thrive in a neatly cut, healthy lawn.
A lawn should be mowed in the spring and fall, and preferably once every two weeks. It is important that the lawn not be mowed too low, as it can cause damage to the grass. A high-quality mower should be used to ensure a clean, consistent cut that does not result in scalping. The mower should have a side discharge that can be turned off for mulching. Grass clippings should be raked up or bagged to avoid thatch buildup and other problems.
Soil compaction and heat stress are common problems for turfgrasses. These soil conditions can lead to thatch buildup, brown patches, and other maladies. Aeration can help alleviate these problems by breaking up thatch and opening up passageways for precious nutrients to reach the roots.
A lawn care professional can also evaluate the health of a yard’s trees and shrubs and suggest appropriate treatments. They may use a soil-injected liquid for the larger trees or a granular material for the shallow-rooted shrubs and ground covers.
Cool, damp weather in early fall can encourage the emergence of lawn pests such as grubs and armyworms. A good lawn care service will identify and control these problems before they become out of hand. They can also advise on mowing heights, proper watering and application of preemergent weed controls. They can also recommend fungicides if a fungal problem develops.
Aeration
Lawn Care includes a series of recurring tasks that help maintain the health and appearance of turfgrass. Some tasks are performed monthly, while others are performed annually to keep a lawn in prime condition. One of the most important annual tasks is aeration.
Aeration involves puncturing small holes in the soil to relieve soil compaction and enhance delivery of oxygen, water, and nutrients to grass roots. Compacted soils have a dense particle population that restricts the free flow of air and hinders root growth. In addition, excessive thatch (a layer of living and dead turfgrass tissue) starves roots of vital nutrients.
The best time to aerate is when your lawn is growing: Cool season grasses thrive in the early spring and fall, while warm-season grasses flourish in the late spring. Aeration is labor-intensive, so it’s usually an add-on service to most lawn care contracts. You can also rent a self-propelled, wheeled aerator at many tool rental shops.
Once your yard is aerated, water thoroughly to help the soil recover and re-moisten. You can even overseed immediately after aeration to get the most benefit. The infusion of fresh seeds and fertilizer will jump-start the aeration’s effect and help to thicken your lawn.
Alternatively, you can wait about a month after aeration to overseed, when the soil is rehydrated and ready for new seed. Watering after aeration will help the overseed grass stay hydrated during its first month of growth. Once the overseed grass is established, it will thicken your lawn and provide a solid barrier against weeds. Using an organic mulch such as compost will help retain the moisture and protect the young sprouts from hungry weeds.
Fertilization
When grass grows, it uses up nutrients in the soil. Even if you never bag your clippings or let them decompose back into the lawn, you’ll need to add fertilizer periodically. Doing a soil test each year will help you determine how much you need to add.
Fertilizing your lawn helps it stay healthy and strong so that it can crowd out weeds. To ensure the weed killer or grass food gets where it needs to go, apply the products with a spreader when conditions are optimal. For example, granular weed killers work best in early morning when there’s a heavy dew on the grass and liquid treatments are more effective when the sun is hot.
Seeding and overseeding are other important lawn care activities that help fill sparse or bare areas of your lawn. To do this, till the soil and then spread the grass seed evenly (or use a spreader for larger areas). Keep in mind that grass seed grows better in full sunlight so you may need to plant it in sunnier spots.
Weed Control
Weed control is the prevention or removal of unwanted plants. This reduces competition for water, nutrients and light from desirable plants. Several methods are used, including physical removal, mowing and herbicides. Herbicides can be applied either as post-emergent to kill existing weeds, or pre-emergent to prevent their growth. Post-emergent herbicides are usually more effective on broadleaf weeds than pre-emergent. Some lawn care companies apply post-emergent herbicides to all lawns, while others treat only the portions of each lawn where weeds are visible. Physical removal of weeds can be done by hand or with mechanical equipment. There are also chemical-free methods of weeding, such as hot water (using a flame to briefly pass over the plant and disrupt its cells), or Foamstream, which uses heat from a propane stream to damage the weed without damaging the grass.
In crop production, preventive weed control is the most effective means of maintaining a high level of productivity. This includes controlling new weeds before they go to seed, as well as preventing perennial weeds that reproduce vegetatively from spreading throughout the field. Herbicides are often a critical part of this program, but they must be carefully chosen and applied.
The effectiveness of herbicides is based on the degree to which they kill some plants (weeds) while leaving other plants unharmed (crops). This is called selectivity. To achieve this, it is essential to know the life cycle of the weed species being controlled and to time application of herbicides accordingly.
It is important to calibrate spray equipment properly so that the amount of herbicide being applied is accurate. Over-application may result in injury to the desired crops or to the environment.
Pruning
Pruning is a standard horticultural practice that involves selectively removing branches, stems, buds, and roots from plants. It can be performed on trees, bushes, and shrubs to maintain or improve their health, structure, appearance, productivity, or yield. It can also be used to control plant size and density, create specialized forms such as hedges or espaliers, and to enhance curb appeal.
Proper pruning techniques vary based on the species of plant, its intended purpose, and the season. For example, trimming during the dormant season is typically preferred as it allows woody plants to compartmentalize wounds and limit pathogen intrusion and decay. It also reduces the stress that is placed on the plant by limiting the amount of new growth that occurs.
In general, pruning consists of removing dead limbs, crossing or rubbing limbs, suckers, water sprouts, and any limbs that are growing in an unbalanced manner. It can also include formative pruning of young plants to guide their growth, as well as thinning or shaping cuts. This includes removing branches that are too thick or overgrown and removing limbs that are obstructing views, reducing overall height of the plant, and creating specialized forms such as hedges, espaliers, and topiaries.
Pruning is an important part of lawn care and should be done at the right time to ensure that your landscaping is looking its best. By combining these critical steps with the proper mowing, fertilization, and weed control, you will have a healthy, lush lawn.