How to Care for the Lawn in winter

Lawn in Winter

Lawns may prove pretty difficult to care and maintain under different climatic conditions. During winter, some parts of the country experience retarded growth of lawn grass. In the south for instance, during the cold season, over-seeding of the ryegrass into the turf is done in order to maintain a green lawn. The cold in the north gets too much for grass growth until springtime. However, lawn care does not end in the winter.

Below are helpful suggestions to ensure your lawn is healthy irrespective of the season.

Fertilize your lawn with a spreader.

Be careful as to how you apply fertilizer on your lawn. A large quantity applied can burn your grass. While operating the machine on the lawn, hold on the handle like a trigger. Doing this releases pellets as you “shoot.” Most importantly, read carefully and be guided by the instructions provided on the fertilizer pack.

The lawn should be aerated.

Providing artificial air on your lawn can go a long way in helping the grasses on your lawn grow better. Grassroots require extra air. With a spade, you can take out unwanted soils around your lawn. Doing this helps to create more holes for the planting of seeds. A large lawn requires an aerator either one operated manually or mechanically.

Spread cool-weather grass seed.

There are some grass seeds that has on their package “cool season” or “cool weather”, e.g. fescues. Such grass seeds should spread over the lawn. The seed can be sprinkled with a fertilizer spreader. Also, the seeds should be spread evenly so it won’t cause grasses clustering as time goes by.

The lawn should be raked and watered.

Regularly keep your lawn raked. This would help get rid of soil clumps. And it would spread those soils over the seeds as a covering. After raking your lawn. You would have to water it. A garden hose spray is recommended for use in watering your lawn. Always keep the soil moist. Avoid getting your lawn all dried out during winter.

More tricks to keep your lawn clean in winter.

Avoid having objects fall off leaves and debris on the lawn. It is important to keep your lawn completely clean and free of unwanted objects. Unwanted objects can deaden the lawn grasses, attract insects, rodents, harmful pests and facilitate disease conditions. During your last mowing exercises on the lawn for winter, you would have to reduce the height of the mower either by a notch or two. Unusual long grasses deaden themselves, cause disease and are at the risk of being damaged by conditions such as thawing and freezing. However, avoid cutting the grass so short. This can make the plant’s crown open to unfavourable conditions.

Taking control measures, it is important to monitor climatic conditions. Although turf can prove to be very resilient allowing extreme winter, there are peculiar weather conditions that can cause long-term damage. It can serve very good purposes to have a little-exposed ice kept in a low spot upon the prediction of a winter storm or a deep freeze. Finally, as a hard and fast rule, keep close monitoring of the weather.

Gutter Clogging and Damage from Trees

gutter clogging

The value of trees to your landscape, property or environment cannot be undermined. Not only do they give curb appeal to your property, but they also provide shade and oxygen. However, trees also shed leaves which can have damaging effects on some structures found on your property. The pros obviously outweigh the cons but they call for strategic positioning in your property to prevent unpleasant outcomes.

The experts at Bel Air Gutter & Siding say they have seen many instances where people haven’t spent a little money to get tree limbs trimmed away from the house. Then in a storm with the winds blowing the branches back and forth, significant damage is done to the roof, gutters, siding or all three. The repairs cost far more than the tree trimming would have.

Gutters are an essential part of your house or building but can be a nightmare if ignored. Neglected gutters form a good habitat for pests and clogged up leaves and debris. These cause obstructions to the rain flow and even ice dams during the winter season. Gutters in this state will likely cause water damage or leaking roofs. This will cost you hugely; hundreds and thousands of dollars to be precise.

Ways Clogged Gutters Can Damage a Home

Wood Damage

The gutter systems are held together by boards often made from wood. The boards will start to rot and eat away when the gutters get clogged and filled with water. If the home has wood siding, the water will overflow out of the gutter and down the sides of the house.

Foundation Damage

The primary purpose of a gutter is to channel water away from the sides of the house and the foundation. Once it is clogged, water will start to flow out from the sides and form around the foundation of the house. Over time, the foundation cracks and weakens, increasing the risk of the house collapsing. If not, mold and mildew start to form around the house.

Here are tips to prevent clogging and damage to your gutters;

How to Prevent Gutter Clogging and Damage from Trees

Strategic Planting

When planting trees, consider the type of trees and their location. This directly affects shade and the distribution of leaves on your property. It will also ensure that trees are kept away from utility lines, structures, and the roof. Also, during heavy rains and thunderstorms, the trees are susceptible to the collapse of large branches which possess a safety risk.

Tree Maintenance

Regular maintenance of trees is important to ensure that your trees are healthy. However, if you have to constantly rake leaves day in and out, this can be a challenge. A professional tree service company can get the job done for you. They specialize in tree trimming, pruning, removal, etc., based on their assessment of the situation. The power company also helps with problematic trees that are interfering with utility lines. Needless to say, proper tree maintenance is necessary from time to time.

Gutter Maintenance

It is vital to clear out your gutter especially during the fall season. This is usually when deciduous trees shed their leaves. Check for debris and clean regularly to ensure that it functions as it’s supposed to, all year round.

It is best to let the job get done by a professional for a great job and safety concerns. They have the knowledge required on strategic planning of the trees; the species, the soil, the locations, etc. They have all the equipment and skills required to trim, prune, or do whatever they deem necessary to rid you of your gutter problem. A reliable company should be certified and insured.

Lawn Care

Lawn Care

A healthy lawn is a great asset to your property. Not only does it improve the aesthetic value, but it also boosts property value significantly. For businesses and commercial properties, healthy lawns are an indication of attention to minute details, and they make a first good impression to your customers. Here are some of the activities that promote a healthy looking lawn all year round.

Fertilization

The type of soil, the climate of your region and many other factors, determine the fertilizer to use. Inconsistent soil moisture, environmental conditions, and diseases threaten the well-being of your lawn.  Lawn fertilization is needed for extra help to supplement the soil where it is lacking. They are either organic, chemical or mixed (organic and chemical) fertilizers. For a healthy lawn, the soil needs the nutrients present in the fertilizers to thrive. Some benefits of lawn fertilization include;

  • Lush green color all year long.
  • Thick tuft of grass
  • Fast and healthy growth
  • Strong resistance to harsh conditions
  • Cool atmosphere
  • Rapid recovery from pests and diseases

Weed Control

Weeds are not only unsightly in your lawn, but also detrimental to the health of your lawn. Weed control works to ensure that your grass out-competes the weeds in water, nutrients and all other resources. Some weeds, like perennial and annual, are harder to control than others; They might require repeat strategies, so it is important to know what type you are dealing with to choose an efficient method.

Aeration

Aeration has several benefits associated with it such as;

  • Improving the overall health of your grass due to easier absorption of air, water, and nutrients by the roots.
  • Reduces build-up of thatch which robs your lawn of essential
  • Relieves compaction of soil hence easy reach of nutrients and air to the root system.
  • Reduces water run off hence better absorption of water.
  • Helps to maintain a healthy pH balance.

Invest in your lawn with these services and more. It is a reflection of you so be sure it screams healthy and beautiful.

Landscaping Options to Increase Property Value

Landscaping creates a significant appeal for your home and enhances your property greatly. Its aesthetic value gives a new look and feel to your house or business. It also increases your property value if you are thinking of selling. Whether you are adding shrubs, a green lawn, lighting features, a patio, walkways, etc. There is extensive experience and expertise in the industry to give you the exact look you are aiming for. We highly recommend Tree Services Annapolis (www.treeservicesannapolis.com).

lawn care

Lawn and bed maintenance

To remain thick, lush and green, all year long, your lawn needs to be cared for regularly. This enables you to maintain a beautiful exterior all day, every day. Here are some examples of the services provided by various tree services that allow this;

  • All season cleaning. Raking, pruning and clearing any dead leaves and debris lying around to ensure your lawn is spotlessly clean and healthy.
  • To give your lawn a tidy and neat finish.
  • Lawn care. Depending on the type of soil in your area, your lawn will receive regular treatments, aeration and fertilizers to promote and maintain healthy growth.

Landscape/hardscape

Whatever space is available for your property, there are both hardscape and softscape options for you. Softscape options include garden beds, flower beds, shrubs, plants, and trees. Hardscape landscaping incorporates walls, stone patios, stone walkways, stone slabs, stepping stones, staircases, reinforced tuffs, permeable turf, staircases, etc.

Outdoor lighting

These outdoor lighting services range from repair, installation and fixing your lighting if broken.  It may involve;

  • Installing and realigning lighting features.
  • Repairing wires
  • Re-adjusting the lights away from vegetation and trees

Pest, weed, and fertilization

Some companies use chemicals, organic materials and others, a mix of both. The purpose is to reduce weeds, promote micro-organisms in the soil, increase nutrients and reduce erosion.

Irrigation services

An efficient irrigation system will strive to;

  • Conserve the amount of water used
  • Limit the water run-off
  • Proper drainage of water
  • Tailored to the individual needs of your lawn
  • Long lasting results

There are a variety of options to choose as you receive professional guidance according to your preference and your budget. Look around for companies committed to customer satisfaction, reliable landscaping services, prompt response and safety for your property and lawn. It has never been easier to get a vibrant and breathtaking view of your property and lawn.

What You Should Know about Stump Grinding

tree stump for stump grinding
Tree Stump

Here is what you should know about stump grinding services. It is an efficient way to get these unsightly stumps out of your yard without any damage to your property. Apart from the aesthetic value, stumps left lying around can pose a health risk to you and your family. Pests and diseases thrive well in tree stumps especially when they start to rot. These could ultimately find their way into your home and be a nuisance to you.

Termites, ants, beetles, cockroaches, etc., are some of the insects that take up residence in old tree stumps. Larger stumps attract squirrels, raccoons, possums or even snakes. Stumps also tend to limit your yard space which could have otherwise been put to good use. With all these negatives that come with stumps, it may be time to rid yourself of that menace.

We recommend that you seek professional help because of a variety of reasons. They include;

Safety hazard

There are dangers involved in handling the equipment especially without the right safety gear, expertise, and equipment. If not removed properly, the surrounding areas could also be at a risk of damage.

Highly certified and trained personnel

Our professionals have years of experience and knowledge regarding stump removal which enables them to get the job done competently and satisfactorily.

Time and labor saving

Digging a stump out of the ground requires a lot of effort, and it will cost you time, probably even money. Assuming you have to hire tools for the job. You can save yourself the frustration by letting us do the dirty work for you at an affordable price.

Once we are done, we leave no trace of ever being on your property. We use advanced modern equipment that is quick and mobile, with minimal intrusions to you and your neighbors. This way, you can trust us to maintain the integrity of your property.

Depth of Removal

Most stump grinding companies will grind the stump down using a machine until it is six inches or so below the surface level and then fill over with wood chips from the grinding and dirt. Then over time the remains of the roots will rot away. If you want to plant something there, this won’t work well. You will need to have the company grind much deeper or go the more expensive route of actually having the stump dug out.

Four reasons to hire a professional tree trimming service

Tree trimming

Tree trimming

While some people enjoy taking care of their yards, others find it to be a hassle. However, tree care requires more than the basic knowledge needed in gardening. The exterior of your home is one of the places you should ensure is more appealing since it can impact on the value of your home should be planning to sell it. If you are thinking about conducting a tree trimming project, you should consider hiring a professional to do it. It is not costly to hire a professional tree service to help you in pruning, and it is still worth it in the long run. Here are four reasons why you should hire an expert for tree trimming even if you have landscaping abilities.

Tree trimming can be dangerous to you

Tree trimming can be a dangerous task depending on the height of your tree. Climbing tall trees is one of the risks you should not take since it can result in severe injuries. Moreover, the tools used in trimming can be dangerous and injure you at the same time. However, professionals have proper training and experience in handling such tools and therefore making it less risky for them to do the trimming.

Falling branches are not easily predictable

Tree trimming is not easy as it may be perceived. It needs proper cutting at the correct angle for the branch to fall at the safe place. Any small miscalculations can cause the limb to hit something when falling. This could cause damage to your property which could result in costly repairs. However, professionals have the skills and can be able to trim the branches as well as avoid property damage.

The results of DIY trimming could get ugly

Can you dare cut your own hair? We both know the results won’t be pleasing or else comedic. In the same manner, DIY tree trimming can lead to an unpleasant tree appearance in your yard. Professionals have the proper skills on the best techniques of pruning which will not only leave your trees looking attractive, but also growing healthy. You should, therefore, hire a professional for best results.

Lack of proper tools

Tree trimming requires different tools, and each tool serves a particular purpose. Acquiring such tools is expensive for a homeowner. Moreover, the tools need appropriate training for one to use them properly. The lack of proper tools can result in damage or injuries. However, professionals have the required tools and are also equipped with the required knowledge on their use. This will enable them to do tree trimming efficiently without causing any damage or injuries.