Urbandale Lawn Solutions 515-771-7674 picture of lawn


 

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the proper way to mow my lawn?
  2. What is the proper way to water my lawn?
  3. Can I let my lawn go dormant in the summer months?
  4. When and how often should I aerate my lawn?
  5. I have many trees in my yard, and can't seem to get grass to grow anywhere near them. What can I do?
  6. What is a perimeter pest control service?

 


What is the proper way to mow my lawn?

Mowing your lawn frequently at one of the highest notches on the mower deck is one of the best practices overlooked by many homeowners. This not only shades the soil surface to retain moisture, but this also crowds out weed competition, and gives the lawn a thicker, darker green look. Cutting on the lower notches of your mower weakens turf and makes it continually struggle.


What is the proper way to water my lawn?

Proper watering for most types of grasses in Iowa for established lawns is to water deeply and infrequently. This typically is 1 - 1.5 inches of water per week during spring and fall months, and 2 - 2.5 inches of water during summer months. This should be distributed between 2-3 waterings per week, unless rainfall is adequate.


Can I let my lawn go dormant in the summer months?

Letting your lawn go completely dormant during periods of extreme heat is never recommended. It is understandable that homeowners without automatic sprinklers would have a much tougher time keeping up with watering for extended periods of time. The facts are most lawns can go through roughly 2 weeks without rainfall during hot periods with no major problems. Anything beyond this will lead to areas that die and won't regrow. After this happens weeds and undesirable grass will invade areas that have declined, not to mention weak turf also invites insect and disease damage. It is much easier and less expensive to maintain a healthy lawn than it is to completely renovate the turf after damage has occurred.


When and how often should I aerate my lawn?

All lawns benefit from annual core aeration. It must be a machine that actually pulls cores of soil and deposits them on the surface. Other types of aerators with spikes on them that push soil downward only compact soil, and serve no purpose. Fall is by far the best time to aerate your lawn, and there are many reasons. Aerating before the last fertilizing of the year is the allowing the grass roots to take in the most valuable feeding of the year when your lawn naturally is storing up food to go dormant for the winter. If you have areas that need to be reseeded that have struggled through the summer months, aerating before seeding is a great way to reestablish the lawn. Aerating during the fall is much better than spring simply because there is much less weed break through in the fall when the surface is opened up. First thing in the spring is also when fertilizer with crabgrass preventer goes down and if the surface is opened up, the crabgrass preventer does not work as well.


I have many trees in my yard, and can't seem to get grass to grow anywhere near them. What can I do?

Many times trees in your yard will compete with your lawn for moisture and nutrients. This along with the extra shade, makes it very difficult to establish and maintain grass. There are many factors that can improve your chances in these areas. Limbing up the existing trees will allow more light to get to the surface. Due to the extra moisture that trees will absorb from those areas, you will need to do additional watering to the grass immediately surrounding the trees. There are also certain types of grass that are more conducive to shady areas. They will be designated as a shady mix. If none of these options work for the area, then it might be time to consider a different solution such as turning the entire area into a landscaped mulch bed with plantings.


What is a perimeter pest control service?

Perimeter pest control put simply is a continuous chemical barrier sprayed around the entire exterior foundation of your home. We spray 2-3 feet up the foundation and 3-4 feet of soil leading up to the foundation. This creates a barrier which keeps crawling pests out of your home. This technique saves a tremendous amount of money compared to traditional in home pest services. It also keeps the treatment areas outside and away from living places.

Why pay for a traditional pest company to come into your home to put chemicals inside your living spaces where your family can be exposed to them. All bugs originate from the outside, and with our proven perimeter pest control service, there is typically no need for any interior treatments. The treatment is colorless, odorless, doesn't stain, won't hurt plants or animals, and gives up to 3 months protection per treatment for hundreds of types of crawling insects. There is no need to be home for this treatment either. To prepare for for a treatment we ask that homeowners to close all first floor and basement windows, as well as pick up any objects laying around the foundation of the home.

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Web site designed by Jenny Crawford, jennycrawford1@msn.com
Last updated 03/07/2012