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Lawn fertilization can be a complicated part of lawn care. It is essential for making the grass grow and creating lush land, but there are many ways it can go wrong and there are a lot of details that the person doing the fertilizing needs to pay attention to in order to ensure maximum success. Some lawn owners choose to fertilize their own lawns and end up not doing the best job due to lack of information and technical ability.
First off, every fertilizer has its own percentage of three key elements, called nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Getting the right combination of percentages relative to your soil and the seasons is one of the key aspects of properly fertilizing the land. These are the three nutrients that your lawn needs, so too little of one could deprive it whereas too much could cause oversaturation. A mixture of twenty percent nitrogen, five percent phosphate and ten percent potassium is a popular choice for spring season fertilizing, but it is by no means universal and each lawn has its own requirements.
The speed of the fertilizer’s release is also something to keep in mind. Slow-release fertilizers are common as they double the time between application and ensure the grass won’t grow too fast. Too much nitrogen in the fertilizer being released too soon can cause overgrow and increase your lawn mowing efforts considerably. On the other hand, if your lawn is deprived you might want to consider adding a bit more nutrients sooner than would otherwise be advised.
You should also plan out the number of applications carefully, as fertilizer needs to be re-applied constantly. Planning five applications ahead is ideal, with the first being around April. There should be no more than eight weeks between each feeding to prevent the soil from running out of nutrients. You will also need to know the temperature of the soil before the first fertilization, as 55 degrees Fahrenheit is generally agreed upon to be the best starting point.
If some of these instructions are confusing to you, you should consider hiring a professional lawn service company. These companies will have experienced lawn care professionals that will know every step required in order to perfectly nourish your lawn. The professional will assess the soil and determine the exact type and amount of the fertilizer needed. Unevenly spread fertilizer can cause the grass to grow more in some places than in others, creating an unpleasant sight that calls for extensive soil work on the entire lawn – with lawn care services, this problem can be avoided.
Lawn care professionals will also determine the right combination of nutrients that your particular lawn needs, something that can be difficult to gauge on your own. Lastly, too much fertilizer can also cause a buildup of thatch and an overgrowth of weeds and algae, all considered a nightmare among lawn owners and enthusiasts. Due to the potentially large negative implications associated with the incorrect application of fertilizer, if you remain unsure on some aspects of fertilization it might be best to leave this job to the professionals in order to preserve your lawn’s health and appearance.
Pest Control
The last thing any lawn owner wishes to deal with are usually the many pets and insects that can inhabit lawns. Not only do they threaten significant damage and destruction of the lawn while potentially being hazardous to humans and pets in the area, the mere thought of bugs overflowing your lawn can disgust and deter anyone who might have otherwise enjoyed being in the lawn’s vicinity. Whenever suspecting that your lawn might be affected by these pests, it’s important to act swiftly before any more damage is done and the insects are allowed to multiply, greatly aggravating the problem on your hands.
There are many different types of insects that can pester one’s lawn, each presenting a different level of threat and nuisance. Moles are the largest pests one’s lawn can contain, and while not being as repulsive as some of the other types, they can potentially cause the most damage as they run rampant through the soil, burrowing and creating large tunnels throughout, causing the destruction of any roots they encounter and the plants attached to them. While moles can actually feast on insects in the soil, they should still be dealt with nonetheless as they can completely destroy a lawn given enough time.
Seeing grubs on your lawn is always cause for alarm as these larvae will soon give birth to one of many beetles that can ruin lawns, such as June or Japanese beetles. Grubs themselves will feed on roots, particularly grass roots, and once hatched will produce beetles that feast on the colorful plants in your garden, like roses or some types of berries. Chinch bugs and mole crickets are more examples of potentially devastating garden pests.
If you can’t see any pests in your lawn but are seeing damage or suspecting that the lawn might be infested, there are several methods you can employ to ascertain the type of pest that might be bothering you. Pouring a soapy solution over the soil will cause many pests such as bugs and worms to quickly come crawling out of the soil, allowing you to take note of the exact types of insects that are making the soil their home. A floatation test involving a hollow can be inserted into the soil with water poured into it can also be used to determine the type and amount of pests that come floating out of the soil.
Regardless of the number of pests in your lawn, you might want to seek professional help when dealing with them as there is a best way to get rid of each pest. Lawn care services can perform the tests for you and then proceed to appropriately deal with any pests bothering your garden and causing damage. They will apply insecticide to get rid of the bugs and liquid formulations to get rid of the moles, as trying to deal with moles using traps like many of the homeowners do can end up causing a repulsive bloody mess. Lawn care service professionals will also guarantee maximum safety throughout the pest control process as some of the chemicals used can be hazardous to humans when handled improperly.