Alpharetta Lawn Care Tips

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The Simple Steps To A Great Lawn April 2nd, 2010

The first step to a great looking lawn is grass cycling or mulch mowing. For most lawns you will want to set your mower at about 3 inches. Doing this allows you to not have to bag or rack your clippings and the clippings can lie on the lawn and add nutrients.

When it comes to weeds, make sure you dig the weed out by the root. It’s important to remember that you need to over seed where you pulled the weed out and then add top dressing to that area. This allows the grass to grow back thick, not only making your lawn look better but prevents weeds from coming back to that area.

It is a good idea to over seed your entire lawn with grass seed and then top dress it once a year. Before doing this, it is wise to simply thatch rack your lawn to rough up the soil so the seeds are better received. After spreading the seed out, apply weed seed free compost on top. The grass will grow up thick and strong, which happens to be a great method to keep weeds out in the future.

The next step is watering your lawn. Your lawn should be getting about an inch of water as the seasons get warmer. A good way to measure how much water you are giving your lawn is to put a can or rain measure in your lawn and turn on your sprinklers. The time it takes to collect one inch of water is the amount of time you should water your lawn.

These simple steps give you a great looking lawn that is all organic while maintaining a great look that will last all summer and will not harm your kids, pets or friends.

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Dethatching A Lawn March 17th, 2010

What exactly is a thatch?

Thatches are both living and dead roots, leaves, stems and other like things that line your yard’s soil. It isn’t a big deal until that thatch becomes too thick, preventing the grass from being able to grow.

What To Do:

You can do it manually or use a dethatcher machine. Both work, one just takes more effort and time. When using a dethatcher, the machine pulls up the thatch, breaking it up and redistributing it out onto your lawn, where it is no longer a hindrance to your lawn.

This can also be done manually, but takes a lot of time and energy. You can use a rake to break up the thatch, or use a shovel and scrape up the thatch. We recommend professional help to do this so you don’t damage your lawn, but it if you know the right steps, and have the patience, you are able to do it by yourself.

Remember this: When it comes to dethatching your lawn, there are a few rules that need to be known:

Make sure you wait for your lawn to be dry before you start dethatching.

Dethatching works best when the weather is cooler.

To get a proper dethatched lawn, multiple dethatchings should take place.

Don’t dethatch your lawn unless it needs to be, otherwise you might cause damage.

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Prep Your Mower for the Winter! January 30th, 2010

Surely you’ve kept your mower well tuned throughout the mowing season. If not, now’s the good time to prepare for a long winter’s nap. Accomplishing basic maintenance task will make spring startups a breeze. When following these instructions: If mowing not your thing, see the attached link: http://www.weedpro.com/Maintenance/residential_maintenance.html

1. Clean Grass off the Mower Deck!
A clean, dry mower free of clippings and debris will store very well over winter and over time. If you’ve been bagging your clippings all season, clean out the bag and hang up as well. To clean the mower deck completely, place the mower on a very hard surface, such as concrete or work table. Make sure you’re standing behind the mower and keep other people and pets away. Start the engine and then spray water in front of one of the rear wheels while the mower is running. The blade must be turning at the same time for this process to complete. When the water runs clear, the deck is clean. Be sure to dry the mower thoroughly after cleaning or rust will set-up on the deck and blades.

2. Run the engine until gas tank is empty! Why you ask???
It’s not a good idea to store your mower or any small motor when it’s full of fuel. Old fuel can break down and clog the carburetor making the mower harder to start, or not start at all next spring. Since it can be difficult to dispose of excess old fuel, you should let the mower run until all the fuel is completely removed from the fuel lines. It’s also a very good idea to add fuel stabilizer/conditioner to the fuel tank before you store your small engine. Run the engine for five minutes to distribute conditioned fuel throughout fuel system. Also, don’t forget your gas can!! Adding fuel stabilizer/conditioner to old gas or new gas will help keep the gas fresh. If you have very old gas, please check with your local waste disposal agency to determine the best way to get rid of the fuel. Don’t dispose the fuel in wooded areas or down storm drains!

3. Change the oil and check the filter:
The end of the season is the best time to change the oil and the filter for home owners. Putting fresh oil in your mower and making sure the air filter is fresh will help it to start easy and run well in the spring. Cleaning the air filter also save gas!!

4. Remove and inspect the spark plugs:
Generally, they should be replaced after 40 hours of use. Put a few drops of oil in the cylinder to lubricate the engine.

5. Inspect the mower before use:
Take a look at all the screws and fasteners on your mower. Make sure they’re tight and in good condition. Replace any damaged parts if necessary. If you have any rust or chipped paint, sand the area and re-paint. Check your owner’s manual for any other end of the season storage tips. Be sure you store your mower in a clean, dry location.

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