Basic Lawn Care Questions and Answers
A well-maintained lawn can add beauty, increase the value of your property, and create a welcoming atmosphere for your family and friends. Here are some common lawn care questions and answers:
What is the correct height for a healthy lawn?
The correct height to cut your lawn is 3-4 inches during the growing season.
How often should my lawn be watered?
Most lawns don’t require watering via your hose. Once you start watering, you can’t stop it. Especially, it is recommended not to water your lawn in southeast PA. Many people do more harm than good by watering.
When is the best time to water my lawn?
It is recommended to water your lawn between 6:00-8:00 am in the morning. This allows wet grass blades to dry during the day and helps to reduce fungus problems in your lawn.
Is it bad for my lawn to go dormant during the summer?
Summer dormancy occurs when the grass is stressed out by intense heat and drought. It can stay in this dormant state safely for 3-4 weeks without dying, although intense drought will kill it over time. Dormant turf is not very pleasant to look at with its unsightly brown tinge. Fortunately, the grass will green up once conditions improve.
Is fertilizer important for my lawn?
Fertilizer is important for most lawns as it provides essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for your soil. These nutrients support new lawn growth and strong root systems. It is important to know that overfertilizing can make more damage than under fertilizing. At Eagle Lawn Care, we include fertilizer as part of our regular lawn care services.
What is the difference between lawn food and lawn fertilizer?
Lawn food helps to keep your grass green throughout the year. Fertilizer helps to improve your soil and root systems to promote new lawn growth and healthy grass.
When should I fertilize my lawn?
It’s best to fertilize your lawn on a regular schedule, starting in early spring. The exact lawn fertilizer amounts vary based on the condition of the lawn, the time of year, etc. It is generally advisable to consult with a local lawn care professional to develop a fertilizing plan optimized for your area and the condition of your lawn.
How can I make my lawn healthier?
First of all, a healthy lawn requires a proper care routine that includes water, fertilizer, lawn food and regular lawn maintenance. It is important to provide these lawn care services at the right time and in the right balance, as either too much or too little care such as not mowing higher or not using a mulching mower can have negative effects on the health of your lawn. Also, it is not recommended to mow the lawn when it’s too hot (over 85F).
How do I control weeds in my lawn?
Weed control methods vary depending on the exact type of weeds you have on your lawn. There are many different types of common weeds that crop up in lawns. Invasive grasses, such as crabgrass, goosegrass, and nutsedge are particularly common in our local landscapes here in eastern Lancaster and western Chester counties. Some of these weeds grow and spread very quickly through their root systems, meaning that mowing alone is not enough to control them. Lawns with these weed types usually require specific treatments to keep them under control. Also, it helps to mow the lawn high and keep it thick from germinating.
Do I need to worry about grubs on my lawn?
Grubs like to feed on the roots of grass and plants. They are a common lawn problem in many areas and are hard to spot because they live in the soil. Grub preventative applications in the late spring and summer will stop grub problems that can damage your lawn in the fall.
Should my lawn be dethatched?
It may be necessary to dethatch your lawn if you have too thick a layer of organic material (thatch) built up around the roots of your grass. Dethatching helps to provide proper water, air, and nutrients to your lawn. Dethatching is a big job that many homeowners choose to pass on to a professional lawn care company that has the right equipment for the job.
What can I do to brown spots on my lawn?
Brown spots occur due to dog urine, fungus, grubs, weed dieback, or excess thatch. Brown lawn spots may turn green again with added irrigation and lawn food, or they may need to be repaired by eliminating an underlying issue and then overseeding. If you are unsure what is causing the brown spots, ask your local lawn care company to diagnose them.
Should my lawn be seeded in the Spring?
We recommend seeding in the fall. It is the best time to seed. It doesn’t really work well to do it in the summer, because seeds need to stay moist. However, it is best to seed when the ground is warm to improve germination rates and to help young grass become established.
How do I know if my lawn needs overseeding?
It can be beneficial to overseed your lawn if it looks worn and thin. It is an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, and maintain your lawn’s color.
What could prevent seeds from germinating?
Grass seed needs to be kept warm and moist to germinate properly. Conditions like dry soil, planting too deep, weather that is too hot or too cold, and strong wind can keep your lawn seed from germinating.
Why does the lawn look worse in the summer?
The lawn doesn’t look good because of summer lawn dormancy but it is a natural thing. High temperature like over 90F days will kill off some grass. The lawn doesn’t grow in high heat. Very hot weather can be even worse for your lawn than dry weather.
How can I make my grass thicker?
Lawns can often be thickened by doing the following:
- Fertilizing
- Controlling weeds
- Overseeding
- Mowing at the proper height
A professional lawn care company will usually be able to provide specific advice as part of their standard set of lawn care services.
Are organic products better for my lawn?
Organic lawn products can be a safe and natural way of treating your lawn. However, reducing the number of lawn treatment applications per year (whether organic or conventional) is one of the best ways to keep your yard more pet- and child-friendly. Organic fertilizers are generally more slow-releasing than conventional fertilizers. Conventional products give quicker results, while organic fertilizers can have good long-term results
How can I prevent dandelions from growing up on my lawn?
The best way to get rid of dandelions is to use a specific dandelion weed control product in the fall. Maintaining a dense lawn is another way to reduce the risk of dandelions cropping up in your yard.
How can I get rid of crabgrass on my lawn?
A good lawn maintenance program can help with crabgrass weed control in early spring before crabgrass seeds sprout. If crabgrass is already established in your lawn, it will often require specific treatment (or set of treatments) to bring it under control.
How much does lawn care service cost?
Lawn care service cost generally depends on the size of your lawn, the type of service you choose, and the frequency of treatments. In general, the fewer the number of annual visits your lawn requires, the cheaper your lawn care service will be. It is best to discuss lawn care pricing with an experienced lawn care expert in your area to determine the exact cost for your yard. If your property is in eastern Lancaster County and western Chester County, PA, you can contact Eagle Lawn Care for a free lawn care estimate here.
How often would a lawn care company treat my lawn?
Basic lawn care service usually includes 3-4 visits: early spring, late spring, summer, and fall. For some lawns, the second visit (in late spring) may not be required; this is determined by the condition of your lawn. Some lawn care companies recommend 6-8 visits per year and will bundle those visits into a single annual contract, thus raising the total cost of lawn care. In our 30+ years of lawn care experience, we’ve generally found these extra visits to be unnecessary. By reducing standard lawn care treatments to 3-4 visits per year and allowing customers to pay per visit (no-contract), we save our customers money and reduces the number of unnecessary chemicals on their lawns. You can learn more about our lawn care process here.