Is your lawn ready for spring? You may want to give it another check-up. Americans care deeply about the quality of their lawn, spending hours every week tending to it and encouraging it to reach its natural green splendor. When you start noticing brown spots or wilting, it’s easy to become frustrated by what can seem like a complex art form. Lawn care services can help with everything from environmentally responsible lawn care techniques to reversing common problems such as wilting and yellowing. Even better, there’s no need to spend excess money on harmful chemicals that do more damage in the long run.
Simple Grass Facts
Let’s get down to the proverbial roots and learn about what makes grass such a particular plant to take care of. Grass plants are anywhere from 75% to 80% water by weight, contributing to their signature lush appearance. On the other hand, they are more susceptible to freezing and wilting when they aren’t carefully watered on a strict schedule. Turfgrass has been found to help control pollution, trapping up to 12 million tons of dirt, dust and pollen released into the American atmosphere. Lawn care services are slowly but surely starting to prefer organic methods instead of traditional ones, allowing Americans to achieve a brilliant lawn without harming the environment.
Seasonal Differences
Your lawn likely goes through visual changes depending on the season. A sustainable landscaping presentation conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (also known as the EPA) has estimated as much as 30% to 60% of water consumption used in the summer months is for grass alone. Likewise, winter is often the most difficult season for grass and can cause the most damage — be careful not to walk on your grass during the winter to avoid the brittle stems from breaking.
Harmful Chemicals
While it can be tempting to reach for the nearest pest control chemical to keep your lawn as healthy as possible, organic lawn care services are quickly replacing conventional methods in light of long-term damage. Over 60 million birds die from pesticide poisoning on a yearly basis, with up to 40% of nitrogen used in fertilizer running off and ending up in ground water. This includes wells, making even a simple spray potentially very harmful.
Basic Tricks
A naturally healthy lawn doesn’t need advanced technology or pricey chemicals to reach its full potential. For example, leaving your grass a little longer than usual (think two and a half to three and a half inches) can significantly improve its health and give it a vibrant, lush appearance. A simple soil test can also tell you its pH level and whether or not your lawn is craving extra nutrients. The majority of grass types fare well with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.0. When it comes down to it, less is usually more.
Creating A Beautiful Lawn
A beautiful lawn can be yours with a little awareness as well as the aid of a lawn care service. More and more professional lawn companies are emphasizing organic techniques in light of harmful pesticides and the damage they contribute to the surrounding environment. The Virginia Cooperative Extension recently published ‘Nutrient Management For Lawn Service Companies’, sharing that pesticides can kill up to 90% of the earthworms where they are applied. Instead of pesticides and overzealous watering methods, an organic lawn care service will help you create the beautiful lawn you’ve always wanted year-round.