Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Fall Aeration

To aerate your lawn means to remove small plugs of thatch and soil to improve the soil aeration.  This process helps to improve the health and vigor of your established lawn. 

Lawns can become compacted by traffic and mowing.  Rain and other watering can also compact the soil, reducing air to the roots, preventing proper growth.

The benefits of aeration are improved water and fertilizer uptake, air exchange into the soil, turf grass rooting, and thatch breakdown.  It also reduces soil compaction, damage from a heavy thatch, water runoff, puddling and soil layering.

Look for the holes to be filled with white, actively growing roots after about 7-10 days.  This is an indication of a successful aeration.

Though Integrity Landscape Services does not provide this service, we highly recommend it for the healthy longevity of lawns we've installed over the years.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Fall Yard Tips

Here are some Fall landscaping tips for your yard from Integrity Landscaping:
  • Shrub and Tree Planting – Fall is the perfect time to plant and encourage good root development.  Fall planting helps the plants establish themselves before Spring.
  • Trim those yew bushes.  Now is the perfect time to shape and trim those yew bushes that grew wild during July and August.
  • Lawn Problems?  Now is a right time to sod or spot-seed barren or damaged areas.
  • It is still a good time for aeration and fertilization. 
  • Grub problems?  Fall is the right time to take control of the situation long term.
  • Weed until a freeze.  Failing to continue weeding will cause your weeds to spread and could make next season even worse.
  • No pruning for Spring shrubs!  Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and other flowering, spring shrubs have already set their buds for the following year; pruning them now will sacrifice next year’s spring flowers.
  • If you want to add a lovely autumn look to your exterior, plant your hardy mums now.