Monday, April 1, 2013

Quality Pointers On Landscaping In Kansas City

By He Wilbert


A well informed and inspired person doesn't need to leave a professionally kept lawn to the professionals. But as the same time a lush yard requires much more than a weekly cut and water. This article will give you an idea of the broad spectrum of lawn care approaches that professional Kansas City landscapers apply.

You must understand what the plant's need as a first step in cultivating the yard. Recognizing that and answering the plant's wants will end with a happy and healthy yard. Awareness of needs will not fix anything, however. You must then meet them.

For new lawns or bare areas, Kansas City landscapers encourage prepping the upper 2-3 inches of earth. The correct preparation should ideally offer a loamy feel. Your goal should be proper water and gas exchange, while retaining some moisture. Some people don't understand that roots need to stay moist and exchange CO2 for Oxygen.

Soil acidity is the next fundamental issue in yard care. Kansas City landscapers use basic pH testing tools that you can get at most landscaping shops. Once you know which level you are at, use lime or ash to alkalize (raise) and compost or manure to acidify (lower) the pH. A good standard pH is a little bit acidic (around 6.7). Visit your nearest Kansas City landscaping store for materials and advice.

Because of the heavy precipitation, erosion and standing pools of water are a problem for many yards in the Kansas City area. Both of these issues can be avoided with some proactive care. Heavily saturated soil will not promote lawn-growth and may bring fungus, while erosion will wash soil, nutrients, and possibly the roots themselves away. The solution is relatively simple- level off and re-grade areas that are low or prone to high drainage, and plant sod or erosion-resistant vegetation, or place mulch, rock, or erosion-controlling materials over extremely steep areas.

You will need to choose between using sod or seed for covering bare areas. Seed is much cheaper but is more difficult and labor-intensive while it establishes itself.

Many lawns require multiple types of grass because of the varied conditions present, many lawns have high-traffic areas that are also heavily shaded, for instance. A downside to using several types is that the shade of the turf my be mottled. If this is not acceptable and you have varied conditions you will need to remove those conditions through landscaping. You may need another opinion on the subject. If so, speak with a local Kansas City landscape specialist..

Professional landscapers know that watering too little could hurt your grass just as bad as watering too much or too often. Kansas City landscapers view each yard as unique and watering as a science that is just as varied in application. Thatch is a common result of regular over-watering. It is a layer of dead grass that becomes a breeding ground for insects and fungus. If the soil is correctly conditioned-draining properly but retaining moisture- 2 inches of water once a week is usually sufficient.

Too much thatch can become an issue if left unattended. This breeding ground for pests and disease can harm the grass in several ways. But thatch that is kept in check, or that decomposes fairly quickly, is actually helpful.

Some varieties of grass, such as Zoysia, could benefit from recurrent de-thatching. De-thatching requires a power-rake for large areas, though a hard hand-rake with suffice in small areas or if a power-rake is not readily accessible. This is simply meant to rake the dead layer of grass up out of the living grass and remove it. A mower is commonly used to pick up the thatch. Remember not to mulch it back into the yard but bag it.

Snowfall and frost will compress the soil every year. This needs to be fixed if your lawn is going to reach its highest potential.

Aeration is the remedy Kansas City landscapers use to fix this condition. This breaks up the surface of the soil and places holes several inches deep. When done efficiently, this will simulate natural processes that eliminate the problem of compacted soil and allow the roots to thrive and develop correctly.

At the start of Spring Kansas City landscapers apply a pre-emergent chemical that keeps weeds from germination. This chemical stops a critical enzyme process that makes weed-seeds germinate. Meaning the weeds don't even take root. This will save a lot of time and labor trying to take out established weeds.

You have to feed the grass just like any other creature. Your yard will lose nutrients over time through various processes. Nutrients must be replaced or the yard will become sickly and prone to disease. Kansas City landscapers recommend at least two feedings per year. And if it does not get too hot, where the grass is too stressed to feed, a Summer feeding is ideal. You can feed the lawn with chemicals or, a more natural method, manure and compost.

Whenever the grass is too long, or if it has gone to seed, you should mow it and wait a few days before fertilizing, if not the nutrition will be concentrated in some areas and never reach other areas. Yet, if the grass has just been cut the fertilizer can do some major harm to the already stressed plants. It is significant to point out that many Kansas City landscapers recommend the higher settings on the mower for this reason and the problems the lawn experiences if it is cut too short.

Once per year Kansas City landscapers employ a fungicide for preventing the spread of disease. Shaded and damp yards and gardens are particularly prone to infection. Kansas City landscaping is especially vulnerable to fungus in warmer months while it rains and the water does not dry completely.

As is true in so many cases, proactive cultivation and diligence will make all the difference when tough times come. Strategic care will always save you work and headaches later on. A stressed or underfed lawn can be fragile and permanently harmed by even one day of bad weather but a healthy yard will stay strong through tough times.

The good Kansas City landscaper will tell you that it is not as easy as people may think but it is needed if your yard is going to reach its full potential. You will find few home-improvement projects as rewarding as gardening and lawn-care. So what are you waiting for? Get rolling!




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