Lawn Care Blogs
Should I fertilize on a hot sunny day?
01/16/2023
Do your lawn a favor and don't fertilize it on a hot summer day! First figure out what grass type you have. Here in Michigan we typically have cool season grasses such as kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, tall fescue, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and creeping brentgrass. Studies have shown fertilizer applications for cool season grasses are most effective between 60 and 75 degrees fahrenheit. Warmer then 75 degrees fahrenheit could actually be detrimental and even cause your lawn to burn. The best schedule for cool season grasses are to fertilize in the spring and in the fall. The grass will store nutrients over the cold winter and assist it in the spring.
Tips For Preparing Your Lawn This Spring
02/08/2020
Spring is right around the corner, and now is a great time to start thinking about the proper steps to take in order to prepare your lawn for a hot Michigan summer. Here are a few tips you can take to ensure you have a healthy beautiful lawn.
1. Aeration
Aerating your lawn is something typically done in the fall, because it compliments planting new grass, also called overseeding. If you have not aerated in a few years, consider doing it this spring. Aeration is the process of poking holes in your lawn and removing dirt plugs. The new holes in your lawn allow water, air and nutrients to freely flow to the root bed of your lawn. You can rent an aerator for your local equipment rental shop for about $75 / day, or give us a call to set up an appointment.
2. Take a Soil Test
A beautiful W. Michigan lawn starts with proper soil. You can test your soil by picking up a test kit from the Michigan Department of agriculture found here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/1,1607,7-125-2762---C,00.html
Soil tests are typically free, but during peak times there may be a $4 charge. The test results reveal a number of different metrics and will reveal nutrient levels that need to be corrected. A typical problem we face in W. Michigan is low acidity, which can be corrected with an annual lime application. Lime can be found at your local big box store.
3. Pre Emergent
Crabgrass is one of the most common weeds we see in W. Michigan. Crabgrass thrives in our hot climate, typically germinating in late May and continues to grow and spread through September. A properly timed pre-emergent application and prevent most crabgrass from ever forming. Thankfully, crabgrass does go away in cooler temperatures, but will return year after year if not properly treated.
4. Spring Seeding
If you have a lot of bare areas in your lawn, you may want to consider overseeding your lawn in early Spring. Keep in mind that pre-emergent applications will stunt or completely prevent new grass from growing, so you will have to choose one or the other for your Spring lawn maintenance plan.