• Lawn Care
  • Mowing and Trimming
  • Fertilizer and Chemicals
  • Core Aeration
  • Water Requirements
• Trees, Shrubs, Perennials
  • Pruning
  • Fertilizing
  • Pesticides
  • Planting Beds
• Sprinkler Systems
  • General Maintenance
  • Water Management
• Licenses You Need To Ask About

LAWN CARE:

MOWING:

The recommended mowing height for most lawn grasses is 2.5" to 3.5". When mowing you should not remove more than one third of the grass blade at any one time. This generally means cutting cool-season grasses every 5-7 days during the peak growing season. Rotary mower blades should be sharpened every 5-10 hours of use.

If you hire a lawn care or landscape company, they will probably mow weekly to aid in scheduling. If you hire someone to mow every two weeks, do not expect to be happy with the results! Lawns should be lightly trimmed with every mowing to give a pleasing appearance; 'scalping' can stress and damage the crown of the plant. Vertical edging along sidewalks, curbs and driveways is recommended on a 4-6 week cycle.

NOTE: Mowers and string trimmers can cause severe injuries to trees and shrubs. The best way to avoid this is to kill all turf to a radius of at least one and preferably two or three feet out from the trunk. The contractor may accomplish this with the use of glyphosate herbicide.

FERTILIZING:

Fertilizer requirements may vary with soil conditions. Bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass turf types require an average of 3-4 pound of Nitrogen per 1000 square feet each year. If grass clippings are picked up, application rates should be increased by about 50%. Warm season grasses like Buffalo grass require less fertilizer. Fertilizer can be applied as liquid or granules. Ask maintenance contractors what they use and why. It is recommended that a heavy application of a fast release fertilizer be made in late fall (mid-October to mid-December), applying two lbs. nitrogen per 1000 square foot. During the spring and summer months the recommended application rate is 1/2 lb. nitrogen per 1000 square foot. Applications of iron and other minor elements should be made based on a soil test.

LAWN WEED CONTROL:

Pesticides should be applied on an as-needed basis. Good cultural practices will lessen the need for pesticide applications. A 1994 federal regulation limits the number of broadcast applications of 2,4-D type herbicides to two per year. Pre-emergent herbicides can be very effective for control of some annual weeds but are more expensive. Ask the contractors what materials they intend to use and how many applications they plan to make.

AERATION:

Core aeration is highly recommended and should be performed in early spring and late summer. It will relieve soil compaction, improve water penetration, and aid in reduction of the thatch layer. Power raking is NOT recommended because it can damage otherwise healthy turf.

WATERING:

Water needs will change with weather conditions. Deep watering with penetration of 9"+ are recommended and should be repeated on an as-needed basis. 90% of turf problems are a result of improper watering, not insects or diseases. Before looking for a chemical solution, use some tuna or cat food cans to measure your sprinkler system output in the problem area and compare to an area that looks healthy.

TREES AND SHRUBS

PRUNING:

The technique of natural target pruning should be used on both trees and shrubs. 'Topping' causes severe damage that is difficult or impossible to correct. People often top a tree because they are concerned that it is getting too tall and may be a hazard, however topping generally results in excessive top growth and weaker branches that are more susceptible to storm damage. Late winter and spring are optimum times to prune many trees and shrubs. Pruning, however, should be avoided prior to heavy freezes. The exception to this recommendation, however, is to prune spring-flowering shrubs, and trees that tend to bleed such as birch, maple, and walnut, in mid-summer.

Shearing is a greatly overused way of pruning shrubs, and should not be used except where a formal, high maintenance hedge is desired. Research correct pruning methods and ask contractors plenty of questions about what they would do.

FERTILIZING:

Fertilizer requirements of woody plants and perennials will vary with plant type and soil conditions. Fertilize shrub plantings in spring and/or early summer. Applications of fertilizer to trees and shrubs in a turf setting are generally not necessary. The contractor should know this!

PESTICIDES:

Pesticides should only be applied on an as-needed basis, although preventive applications are recommended for some problems on some plant species.

Dormant oil applications are recommended for some trees and shrubs, and preventive applications for borers may also be recommended, especially for newly planted trees. It is important to realize that there is not necessarily a pesticide solution for every problem. The importance of good cultural practices should not be underestimated.

Ask the contractor what spray applications he anticipates having to make, and what kinds of fertilizer will be used on shrub plantings. Find out if the contractor will take care of perennials as part of the agreement.

PLANTING BEDS:

Planting beds that are mulched with wood or bark chips will need to have the mulch replenished every year or so. Pre-emergent herbicides can be used to control annual weeds in planting beds. There is a wide range of materials available with activity periods ranging from a few weeks to nine months. Applications should be made and watered in prior to weed-seed germination. Spot spray applications of a systemic herbicide such as Roundup (glyphosate) will also be helpful in controlling emerged weeds. A good maintenance program will probably involve both chemical and manual weed control. Ask the contractor what pesticides will be used and why.

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS:

GENERAL MAINTENANCE:

Regular maintenance of your sprinkler system is a must. You must have both good design and good installation for your system to work properly. Sprinkler heads that are improperly installed above grade can become a point of contention between a homeowner and a mowing contractor. Talk to the contractor about this! The operation of the sprinkler system should be checked weekly, preferably after each mowing, to ensure good coverage. An automatic system controller should be adjusted frequently throughout the year to allow for changing climatic conditions. If you use untreated irrigation water, there will be substantially more maintenance involved in cleaning filters. If you have problems with clogged sprinklers, you may want to talk to the contractor about upgrading the filtration at the pump or point of connection (if you have pressurized irrigation).

Find out from the contractor if the agreement covers routine maintenance and what the charges will be for additional repairs and improvements.

WATER MANAGEMENT:

You should understand there may be a need for adjustments and changes to your sprinkler system as the landscape matures.

Your sprinkler system will need to be winterized in the fall. A high volume air compressor is generally used (100 cfm minimum ). Find out if the contractor guarantees his work. Will they be around next spring if you have any problems?

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