It's a Jungle Out There

Plants, Gardens and Gardening

Archive for the 'Lawn Care' Category


   Mar 09

Why I Highly Recommend That You Rent an Aerator

As a landscaper, I have aerated a lot of lawns, and I've even seen a lot of lawns that have been aerated by hand. I think that the best way for you to aerate your lawn is by using a core aerator. Since they are very expensive to buy and since very few people have an aerator, I suggest that you use an aerator rental. Don't worry about getting insurance on the aerator rental since these machines are virtually indestructible, but do get a high quality gas powered core aerator.

This machine isn't that difficult to use. Its’ a little bit difficult to turn around if you have never turned one around before, but the way that it works is pretty simple.  All you do to use it is to put the tires in the ground and then pull the throttle cable that allows the machine to go forward. Aerators only go forward. They don't go in reverse for obvious reasons. I highly recommend that you get a lawn aerator rental because it does a really good job. If you're trying to do by hand, it is going to be hard for you to go over your whole lawn twice, it will take you a lot of time and a lot of work. However if you're using an aerator rental you can quickly and effectively go over your whole lawn twice, and you will be a will to do this in less than an hour for most lawns.

If you're going to get an aerator until you should definitely get a core aerator. Don't get a spike aerator because Spike aerators just don't last as long they don't do as good of a job on your lawn.  In addition,  core aerators also puts plugs on the top of your lawn which act kind of like a light top dressing. And they can help your lawn out in a lot of ways.

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   Aug 17

What is a Lawn Scarifier?

Garden lawn

A well kept lawn improves the look of your garden


A lawn scarifier looks very similar to a lawn mower, but does not cut your grass.  In fact, these lawn tools are used to detach stuff from your lawn in order to make it look vibrant and to keep it healthy.

So how do these work? There is a rotating cassette on the bottom of the machine with many tines around it.  As the contraption rotates, the tines will allow it to break apart any moss, thatch, or debris that is in your backyard or garden.  It is important that you rid your lawn of these harmful items, because they can make the lawn become unhealthy and start to kill some of your vegetation.

This type of detaching equipment will not rip up your grass at all, only what is harmful around it.  In order to operate one of these, it is actually quite simple.  If you have a electric or petrol powered detacher, all you have to do is guide the machine over the area where you want something detached from your lawn.  If you have a manual one, you are just going to need to simply push it over that same area, and it will do its job.

You have many options to choose from when deciding a scarifier for you lawn.  Aside from choosing whether you want a manual or electrically powered one, you can choose the size of it and whether you want a separate scarifier, or one that can attach to the lawn mower that you may already have.  Remember to keep a budget in mind when picking one of these out, because you do not want to spend more money than you prior planned.

These scarifiers, or lawn detaching rakes, are very helpful to keep up a healthy lawn.  They are not hard to operate and will be well worth the investment if you are able to rid your lawn of harmful items like thatch, moss, and debris.  You can pick one of these up at your local lawn and garden store and home improvement stores, or even online at reputable websites such as Amazon, or other garden related websites.
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   May 02

Good Soil for a Healthy Lawn

Soil is so important when it comes to healthy lawn care, which some people have had to replace complete sections of their lawns because the soil was full of bacteria and disease. Many people aren't aware that soil can actually be the problem in preventing your lawn from maturing how you had planned.

You may have spent a lot of money on your lawn only to find out the soil is full of disease for various reasons. These are things that a do-it-yourselfer may not be aware of, but if you were to ask a good lawn care service is Baton Rouge they could come out and test your soil to find out what the issue might be. Soil issues or any other issue that pertains to excellent lawn care can be handled by the professional services of lawn care companies in Baton Rouge.

Lawn care begins with a complete understanding of proper lawn care. Some people really don't have the time to spend figuring out how to take soil samples, so they need someone they can call. All of these things don't really have to be issues because all you really need to do is call on the help of a professional lawn care service and leave the rest to them.

From handling your soil issues to creating a beautiful lawn, lawn care services can help to build a lawn, garden, or landscape that will last for years and years. If you are having soil issues or you need to lay down sod, these are things that can be handled by the professionals. If you have issues with cutting grass, trimming trees, or just regular lawn care maintenance, calling one of the local lawn care companies can help you regain control of your lawns, gardens or landscapes.

Proper lawn care is sometimes very difficult and can really take a lot of time, commitment and dedication. If you are having a problem applying these items to your weekly lawn care rituals, then don't waste another minute and call the people that can help, professional lawn care services in your area will make all the difference in the world when it comes to proper lawn care.
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   Apr 14

Just Why Should you Aerate and Thatch your Lawn?

Aeration of the soil in your lawn refers to the air gaps in the soil. It is the process of using mechanized equipment to insert holes for better water, nutrient absorption and help in reducing thatch build up. There are times when you'll have noticed that your lawn looks dull and dry. This is because soil fertility does not always equal soil productivity. All plants require fertile soil to grow but fertility alone is not enough. Enough water and air are needed to make a good crop.

In addition to that, thatch makes the soil compact which makes it hard. Nutrients and water cannot be penetrated anymore by the soil. Aerated or dethatched soil enhances the oxygencontent of the soil making the roots grow and speeding up the decomposition of thatch.

Thatch accumulates on the surface of the soil just below the grass line. These are layers of grass, stems, roots, clippings and debris that settle on the ground. When soil has lots of thatch then it becomes hard and compact because air has no space to move in. Dethatching, using the right dethatcher, is removing the thatch from your lawn.

You do not aerate lawns for no reason at all. There are many benefits that aeration and thatching bring to your lawn besides making your lawn greener:

  • Improving drainage and reduce runoff
  • Controlling thatch development which crowds the soil
  • Reducing soil compaction
  • Reducing drought damage
  • Allowing water, nutrients and air be accumulated by the soil to the root system
  • Having a healthy and bountiful crops

Autumn and spring are the best seasons to aerate your lawn. You can do it on a day when temperatures are milder and the soil is in a moist condition.

Basically, these are the reasons to aerate your lawn.  Once you see the results of doing so, you will be glad you did.

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   Apr 08

Getting Rid of White Lawn Grubs

There are two major possibilities for the sudden death of the turf grasses in your lawn and ornamental plants. One could be the cause of excessive heat. The plants can no longer tolerate the high temperature and would regressively dry out. The other reason could be the possible existence of destructive grubs that is eating up your whole backyard. If the turf grasses continue to lose its color and eventually dies, despite the regular maintenance, then most likely tiny little grubs are starting to chew your lawn.

White grubs are the larvae form of stout-bodied beetles. They are mostly detected in areas where there are brown spots. To confirm their existence, remove the dead grass and check if there is any larvae present. If you spotted one or a few white lawn grubs, gather them altogether and permanently destroy these nasty creatures. There is no need for advanced decontamination if the infestation does not spread all throughout the yard. However, in some instances where these loathsome grubs are way out of your control and are scattered all over the place, then you might need to use appropriate pesticides to stop the infestation or in worst cases, seek professional help.

One effective procedure to eliminate white grub is by using the nematodes' solution. Heterorhabditis nematodes are tiny worms who can kill white lawn grubs. They are mixed with distilled water and are sprayed on the affected areas. To acquire better results, do this process on early summer or fall. Water the grass before and after applying the solution and do this procedure twice with two-week  intervals.

Small amount of insecticides can also be use to remove younger larvae grubs while older lawn grubs are eliminated better with the use of stronger synthetic pesticide. However, consider this as your last option for it cannot only kill those lawn-eating mutts, but your plants may not survive the harsh reaction as well.
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