Lawn Care and Maintenance

How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn in Seven Simple Steps

On March 19, 2015 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn in Seven Simple Steps Step 1: De-thatching and Core Aeration -use a de-thatching machine or contact Harmony Gardens Landscaping to de-thatch your lawns. -ensure to rake up the removed thatch from de-thatching and dispose of -thatch can harbor insects and disease -thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching grass roots -healthy lawns have 1cm or less of thatch – more is not healthy -core aerate lawns after de-thatching in the spring and the fall and before top dressing, fertilizing and over-seeding -core aerators should have the weights on to

Fall Clean-ups

On September 11, 2014 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Property Maintenance / Leave a comment

Did you know a well-planned fall cleanup will benefit your lawns and flowerbeds? While most homeowners think of fall cleanup as leaf raking and disposal, there are numerous ways to give your grass and plants TLC in preparation for winter. These helpful hints can provide wildlife with shelter and food, weeds become easier to control, and plant diseases can be minimized.

Q: Where is the P (phosphorus)?

On March 12, 2014 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Natural Gardening / Leave a comment

The middle number on bags of lawn fertilizer seems to be disappearing. Why is that? Well, in addition to being one of the primary macro-nutrients needed to grow turf grass and most other plants, phosphorous (P) can be very harmful as a pollutant to surface waters. Phosphorous has very low downward mobility in soil and this low soil mobility can be further complicated by fine textured, heavy soils like clay (Richmond clay).

Best Lawn Management Practices

On March 4, 2014 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Property Maintenance / Leave a comment

Right Product Use the correct fertilizer for your soil conditions. Your soil should be tested annually to determine what type of fertilizer nutrients are needed. Slow release nitrogen is preferable as an environmentally responsible choice Slow release nitrogen can be found in organic as well as synthetic fertilizers. Directions on the fertilizer bag should be followed to ensure the best results with that product for your lawn and the environment. Right Rate Use the right amount of fertilizer. Follow fertilizer rate recommendations. More is not always better. Too much fertilizer can result in burning and

Top Dressing Lawns

On February 19, 2014 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

Top dressing is the process of applying compost, top dressing soil, garden soil, topsoil or composted top dressing pellets over the surface of your lawn. Top dressing is a way to restore balance to your lawn, build good soil and increase your soil flora. Good soil is living soil which contains billions of microorganisms.

Lawn Care Program: Weed Management

On February 14, 2014 / Ask An Expert, Landscaping Tips, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Property Maintenance / Leave a comment

Weed management is a process of eliminating weeds in your lawn through a combination of weed control methods, awareness of growing conditions, and building a healthy, thick lawn. To get rid of weeds you need to care for and manage your lawn correctly.

Q What needs to be done in the fall for care of my lawn and beds?

On September 18, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: In late August to late September you should repair damaged lawn areas, monitor for insect damage when the lawn greens up with fall rains, core aerate in combination with seeding or top dressing, apply nematodes if grub damage present or as a preventative measure, re-seed or sod necessary areas, & de-thatching if there is a thatch problem.

Q: What is pruned in the fall?

On September 17, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Landscaping Tips, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: Pruning is an important part of plant and shrub care that is performed for both aesthetic reasons and for plant health. Pruning is the cutting away of unwanted parts of a plant for more fruitful growth and shaping. You should prune a plant or shrub to remove crossed, damaged or diseased branches which will stress the plant. Anytime is a good time to prune away dead growth, broken or diseased limbs, and suckers as undesired growth drains energy from the plant.

Q: Do I need to fertilize my lawn in the fall?

On September 14, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: Yes, fall fertilization is vital. Healthy soil provides nourishment to grow healthy grass. The soil itself needs to replenish its nutrients so it can continue to keep your lawn healthy. Keeping your soil healthy with the addition of the necessary nutritional elements is called fertilization. All fertilizers provide three main nutrients for the grass, which are listed by percentage weight on fertilizer packages. These are: nitrogen (N) which is necessary for stem and leaf growth; phosphorous (P) which promotes root, fruit and flower growth; and potassium (K) which assists other nutrients to function well

Q: What is over-seeding? Why is it important to fall lawn care?

On September 13, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: Over-seeding is applying a suitable blend of grass seeds to an existing lawn to replenish grass cover to create thick grass that will crowd out weeds. Weed seeds are very opportunistic and will establish themselves wherever bare soil exists.

Q: What are the water requirements for a healthy, green lawn?

On June 18, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Property Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: Lawn programs recognize that water is a valuable and scarce resource, especially in summer. Naturally cared for lawns have reduced watering requirements because: grass cared for naturally is cut longer to encourage deeper roots and improve the grass’ ability to access water. grass in a natural lawn is a blend of grass species including types requiring less water. mulched clippings, which are 90% water themselves, have been left on the lawn to cool the crowns of the grass, provide nitrogen and help conserve moisture. When it is necessary to water your lawn, ensure that

Q How can I keep my annuals looking good without a dose of 20-20-20 synthetic fertilizer?

On June 14, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Natural Gardening, Organic Landscaping / Leave a comment

A Try one of several available types of fish emulsion fertilizers and you can use a blood meal – bone meal mixture. When planting your annuals in late May make sure they are started off with fresh compost. To contribute to soil health diversify your annual garden by including colourful perennials. Follow companion planting guidelines to improve your annuals.

Q: Can you provide us with some tips on mowing our lawn?

On March 27, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Landscaping Tips, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Property Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: Nothing is more important to the health of your lawn than proper mowing. There are five simple rules that will make a big difference. – Cut your lawn to a height of about 7.5 cms. (3 inches). This is especially important in the heat of the summer and for shade lawns. This longer height encourages deep root growth and creates shade that inhibits weed seed germination. The shade from taller grass is very important. Studies have shown that a dense grass canopy mowed at 7.5 cms. can control crabgrass populations by 80%. Short mowing

Q: What is de-thatching and its purpose?

On March 21, 2013 / Ask An Expert, Landscaping Tips, Lawn Care and Maintenance, Property Maintenance / Leave a comment

A: De-thatching is a process that removes thatch from a lawn. Thatch is a layer of dead and decaying organic matter located where the grass emerges from the ground. If it becomes too thick, it will not break down and forms a dense layer that tends to be impermeable to water. [singlepic id=204 w=320 h=240 float=right]A thin layer of decomposing plant material in a lawn is considered healthy as it protects the crown of the grass and helps control the temperature of the grass. This thin layer is sometimes called the “mat”. Thatch – not

How to Take Care of New Sod

On March 20, 2013 / Landscaping Tips, Lawn Care and Maintenance / Leave a comment

Watering Schedule: Your new lawn/sod will require plenty of water in the first few days. Water the sod as soon as possible after it is installed. Then water thoroughly on a daily basis for one week. Reduce watering to three times a week the next week and then once a week thereafter. Being thorough means at least one (1) inch (or 25mm.) of water at each and every watering. Reduction in watering or irrigation frequency is to encourage deep, healthy rooting. Frequent, light watering results in shallow roots. Water evenly and slowly so that the