Top Tips For Summer Lawn Care

Keeping your lawn lush and green over the hot summer months can be difficult. Follow these summer lawn care tips and make your lawn the envy of the neighbourhood.

Summer Lawn Care - Watering
Your lawn typically needs between 1 and 1.5 inches of water per week. If it's really hot and your lawn starts to yellow you may need to increase this. Try to water your lawn once a week rather than spreading your watering out. Water in the morning, preferably before 10 am as this will reduce the amount of water evaporation, meaning more water will sink into your lawn. You should avoid watering you lawn at night as it can increase the risk of fungi and disease.

Summer Lawn Care - Mowing

Let your lawn grow a little higher during the summer months than when the weather is colder. The higher grass will help protect the roots from the sun's blaze. Most gardening experts recommend a height of 3-3.5 inches, or even 4 inches if the summer is unusually hot. You should also avoid mowing your lawn when it is very hot as this can cause it to dry up and turn yellow. You should also mow your lawn less than you would during the rest of the year. Once a fortnight is generally sufficient.
Summer Lawn Care - Feeding
For maximum summer lawn care, apply a summer feed to help it grow well. There are several chemical feeds available which are designed for the summer months and will help keep your lawn green and crisp during hot weather.

Summer Lawn Care - Seeding and Repairing
Although most gardeners would recommend seeding and repairing in spring or autumn, if you are prepared to regularly water your lawn it can be done in summer. There are some fantastic lawn repair seeding kits on the market which can have fantastic results if you care for your lawn and water it regularly.

Summer Lawn Care - Boosting
Summer lawn care needs to continue throughout the hot weather. If your lawn is starting to look tired and yellowed after a few weeks of summer then try a lawn boost. There are lots of lawn boost products on the market which will feed and rejuvenate your lawn and help keep it looking beautiful throughout the rest of the hot weather.

Summer Lawn Care - Compaction
Your lawn is most well used during the summer months, with dogs and children running all over it. This can start to cause compaction after a few years. If you find you are getting bare patches on your lawn in places where it is most used, compaction is probably the cause. The best way to treat compaction is to aerate your lawn. You can hire aerators from rental companies and some garden centres, but most experts recommend that you aerate in late autumn, so unfortunately you will have to live with the patches throughout the hot weather, but will be able to eradicate them by the following summer.
So follow these simple summer lawn care tips and achieve the lush lawn you've always dreamed of.

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Lawn Care Services for Homes

Whether you have a large, sprawling lawn or a small patch of green facing the porch, you require professional lawn care services to maintain the beauty and health of the lawn. You don't want first impressions to be ruined by a straggly, ill-tended lawn. Mowing and tending lawns yourself is tedious and takes up the entire weekend. It is easier to hire lawn care services to take the responsibility off your head — they offer professional, scientific lawn maintenance at an affordable price.

Residential lawn maintenance involves sprucing up and looking after greens in and around homes and residential communities. The goal is to make the lawns grow green and healthy, as well as keep them safe for children, pets, and people.

Pest Control

Fleas, ticks, and ringworms are serious health hazards. Flea infestation of pets and inside the homes is a serious problem. Ringworms are a threat to the health of children and adults alike. Some insects are a nuisance when it comes to the grass and shrubs. Mole crickets, spittle bugs, bill bugs, webworms, and chiggers damage plants and render waste the entire work of planting and tending to shrubs, flowering bushes, and trees. Prevention is better than cure; lawn care services prevent and eliminate harmful pests from lawns.

Often, pests and insects move from gardens into homes through undetected cracks and ingresses. Lawn care services pest-proof homes by creating a barrier to the entry of crickets, fleas, spiders, and other insects.

Nutrient Application

All fertilizers are not equally safe or effective. Providers of lawn care services understand the relevance of particular nutrients for different types of trees and shrubs. Lawn care services seldom involve simple application of nutrients to plants. Many fertilizers leach into the soil and pollute the groundwater or a nearby water source. To prevent this, a lawn care services company must inspect the lawn to select the best spots for fertilizer application.

Plant Care

Plants require more care than you think. Large trees are particularly vulnerable to fungal and bacterial disease, desiccation, and nutrient deficiency. A professional lawn care company will assess the kind of service your lawn plants require and provide a cost estimate.

Weed Elimination

Weeds creep into flower beds, grass, and potting, and compete with plants for nutrients. Parasitic weeds may destroy plants and other types of weeds prevent the sunlight to reach the plants. It is recommended that you call professional lawn care services for weed elimination. Incorrectly used weed killers can cause damage to the plants and make the soil toxic.

Hiring a professional lawn care company is the best way to spare your weekends from difficult mowing jobs. Professional maintenance prevents the danger from pests or poor plant nutrition, and provides a clean, well-maintained look to the garden.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/lawn-care-services-for-homes-4794700.html

Lawn Sprinkler Systems - Your Way To The Greenest Lawn In Town

Maintaining a luscious and green lawn is best and easiest done by getting one of those lawn sprinkler systems. Not only do they provide you with the convenience of watering your lawn automatically, they also ensure that your turf gets the optimal irrigation it needs. While lawn sprinkler systems might be rather costly, it is not true that they are a waste of money, or only for people who are too lazy to water their lawn. In reality, lawn sprinkler systems could save you money because they ensure that you only consume the right amount of water for your lawn, keeping your water bills in check.

Why Get a Lawn Sprinkler System?

Using a hose to water your lawn wastes your time, effort and money. Aside from that, it also does not provide you grass with enough water because you would be quite difficult to ensure that you are targeting the roots correctly. But with lawn sprinkler systems, you are sure that your plants get the right amount of water in the right places. This decreases the likelihood of your lawn from experiencing drought, and thus avoiding the expensive ordeal of replacing dead grass, saving you even more money. In addition to all these is the convenience of not needing to devote much attention to your lawn because of automation. Furthermore, a lawn sprinkler system also raises the value of your property.

Kinds of Lawn Sprinkler Systems

There are many types of lawn watering systems available for different needs and budgets. Typical watering systems for residential use employ in-ground irrigation methods. This entails burying the sprinkler system underground. This allows you to avoid having eyesores on your lawns such as tangled pipes, irrigation valves, and sprinklers as they are all hidden from view.

Here are some variations of lawn watering systems:
1. Spray irrigation - this is the most common type of lawn sprinkler systems. As the name suggest, water is sprayed directly over the lawn with this type. Long tubes are imbedded in the lawn, and are attached to a water source. Water is then shoot out of the tubes using sprayers. Usually a center pivot is used where there are fixed points that form a large irrigation circle. Sprinklers are installed on top of the tubes and rotated throughout the landscape. Such types of sprinkler systems are good for light soil types. They can also be controlled by an electric device, making operation easier and more flexible.

2. Drip Irrigation - this type of irrigation is less common because it appears to be more complicated. Tubes with holes are buried under the turf. Holes are situated at set distances that are set specifically for the area where they will provide irrigation. The concentration of the holes can also be varied. Unlike the spray system, water is not sprayed into the air, but are sprinkled, or dripped near the plant roots, providing direct contact. Not only does this prevent people from getting went in the event that they pass through the lawn while water, drip sprinkler systems allow more precision when watering. Another great thing about drip sprinkler systems is that they use less water, saving you even more money while helping the environment. According to certain studies, drip systems use only about half the amount of water that spray systems use. Thus they are quite economical and practical.

Things to Consider When Choosing Lawn Sprinkler Systems

When choosing a sprinkler system to use for your lawn you should first check the capacity of the system to meet your landscaping needs. You might not need a complicated system for a small lawn area, but you might need something more complex for a large yard. You should also consider the water supply available as certain systems might need more water than others. Certain sprinkler systems may also be labor-intensive to install, if you plan to install them alone, you should consider the skills needed to use a particular system. The type of soil in your lawn should also be studied as some systems may be ideal to certain soil types. Lastly, you should check your budget and see if you can afford a particular type of sprinkler system.

A healthy lawn needs a good irrigation method. Using a lawn sprinkler system is the most efficient and effective way of filling this requirement for having a good lawn.

Source: Free Articles

About GRUEsome Grass LLC Lawn Care and Landscape

GRUEsome Grass Lawn Care and Landscape is a full service commercial and residential lawn care service. Our goal is to provide the level of service that simply is not available through your typical “Lawn Care Company”. We take pride in exceeding the levels of professionalism you expect from a lawn service company.

About GRUEsome Grass LLC

GRUEsome Grass LLC is located in the Union County area. GRUEsome Grass LLC is a complete lawn maintenance service for all types of properties. GRUEsome Grass LLC understands how important your lawn is to you and feel the same way. We love what we do. This is a fully insured and licensed company so you can rest at ease when work is to be done on your property. We are not a fly by night company, here today gone tomorrow. Companies that do not carry insurance or license, or have illegal employees can cost you more money if an accident occurs. We will be there week after week. Uniformed crews take pride in your account and will listen to what your needs.

We will do all your lawn service needs:

• Mowing And Edging
• Aeration/Over-Seeding
• Leaf Removal
• Shrubs Trimming
• Hauling Of Any Kind
• Residential & Commercial Insured
• Free Estimates
• Satisfaction Guaranteed

About Monroe, NC

From Marvin to Marshville, and the 12 other communities that make up Union County, North Carolina we welcome you to rolling pastures, winding roads and very friendly people.
A retreat from nearby Charlotte, we offer shops on quaint historic Main Streets as well as chic spas and salons.   For those who like to get their hands dirty, there are plenty of places to “pick your own produce” or fish for trophy bass.
If hiking and horses are your passion, there are greenways and trails dotting the county.  In fact, Union County is home to the largest equestrian population in the entire state!
Monroe, with a population of 36,392 is the county seat of Union County.  The historic, Victorian Courthouse built in 1886, sits magnificently atop a central square and draws attention from every direction.  To the north, lie County and City government buildings - to the south, quaint downtown shops, restaurants and businesses.  Several fountains and small park areas are part of the downtown landscape.  Tree-lined streets and restored historic homes carry you away from the heart of Monroe.
A thriving Highway 74 Corridor is where you’ll find most major restaurant and economy hotel chains, shopping malls and car dealers and just about everything in-between!  Farmland is becoming more uncommon to see along this bustling business segment as more and more businesses move in to service the fastest-growing county in the state.
Another economic pulsepoint for Monroe is an industrial and distribution center situated near the Monroe Regional Airport.  The City is home to multi-national corporations as well as local regional companies.  Being adjacent to the 2nd largest financial center in the United States and proactively pursuing the growth and development of high-technology businesses, the City of Monroe has become a significant player in many new growth sectors.
We look forward to welcoming you personally on a future visit!

Source: http://visitmonroenc.org/aboutmonroe.php

How To Fertilize Your Lawn

Why is it important to fertilize a lawn some may wonder? Isn't it enough to just water it and mow regularly? Fertilizer provides your lawn with nutrients that soil lacks, keeping your lawn healthy by aiding in the recovery of foot and pest damage,
creating new leaf and root growth, and reducing weeds. All of this works to give you the beautiful lawn you hoped for. Now, how do you fertilize a lawn?

Before you fertilize a lawn, you want to identify whether you have warm season or cool season grass. Most of the US is transitional, so you can tell by warm season grass turning brown after the first frost and cool season grass staying green year round.

The next step to get a beautiful lawn is finding the pH level of your soil. This will help you determine what kind of fertilizer is best for your yard. A pH range of 6.0 to 7.0 are the best conditions to grow quality grass.

The last step is to measure the size of your yard. When you fertilize a lawn you have to know how much fertilizer you will need. The fertilizer package will tell you how many square feet it covers, so you need to determine the square footage of your yard. You can do this by multiplying the length of your lawn by its width, and then subtract the square footage of the house, driveway and all other areas not being fertilized.

If fertilizing cool season grasses, you will fertilize heavy in the fall and lightly or not at all in the spring. When the temperature is between 60-70 degrees, cool season grass grows the best. You want to place the fertilizer so it is effective before severe cold weather comes. If you do decide to fertilize a lawn in the spring, make sure to lay the fertilizer before the warm weather of summer comes.

Warm season grasses grow best between 80-95 degrees depending on the region, so it is best to start growing this grass in late spring and summer. As the lawn begins to turn green in spring, it is the right time to start fertilizing. Make sure to the fertilizer is used up before the warmest part of the summer, and then fertilize again after the peak of the summer to ensure you get a beautiful lawn.

When actually fertilizing a lawn, there are five easy steps to follow. First, make sure the spreader and fertilizer are dry. Next, set the rate-of-flow according to the fertilizer bag, but if you have any doubt it is better to fertilize less then more. Then you close the hopper vent and begin filling the hopper slowly with the spreader placed on a hard surface. As you begin spreading the fertilizer, spread it in a criss-cross manner evenly across the lawn. Finally, clean the spreader thoroughly and you are done fertilizing a lawn that easily.

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Tips For Lawn Care

Proper lawn care includes such things as mowing, watering, fertilizing and the removal of weeds. The amount of care that you give to your lawn will depend on the lawn itself. It will depend on the type of grass, the weather and the type of soil that you have.

It is always a good idea to mow your lawn as often as possible. Mowing maintains a uniform height for all the plants. It also helps control the growth of the weeds by cutting off their seed-bearing stems. There are various types of mowers that can be used to create the perfect looking lawn; the one that you choose is completely up to you. No matter what kind of lawn mower that you use you should always take the time to sharpen the blades of your mower. Sharpening the blades will ensure that your grass is being cut, rather than just being broken off or pulled out.

Lawn care is not a simple task and it does require some time and effort. Mowing the lawn itself can be a tedious task. For example, new grass should not be mowed until it has grown to a height of two inches. After the first cutting however, it should be kept at a height of one and a half inches to two inches. Depending on the type of grass and the conditions in which it is growing, you could end up mowing your lawn quite frequently.

Lawn care also includes watering. The amount of water and the frequency of watering can and will vary considerably between lawns. Enough water should be applied to wet the soil and to a depth of four to six inches. It is very important that you soak the ground thoroughly. This is needed because light watering will encourage the roots to grow near the surface. This will result in the grass dieing in dry weather and the roots will be unable to reach the water deep down in the soil.

Fertilizing is also a major component in lawn care. This is important in maintaining a dense and healthy lawn. Most lawns need these major elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. All of these things can be found in lawn fertilizers. It is best to apply fertilizer twice during the year, in the early spring and then again in the late fall. In the early spring, fertilizer should be applied before the grass has started to grown ad while the soil is full of moisture. This helps the grass produce stronger and more extensive roots. Fall fertilizing, after the late season rains, help the grass recover from the summer hear and drought.

Lawn Care Tips

   Most all Lawn Care items fall into one of the following categories. From Establishment to Mowing or Watering. We will follow the example of a new lawn being established and cared for over the course of a season and list the things that may need to be done. We can't cover every single item that there is possible to be done to a lawn here for lack of time and space, however, if you don't find it here you will find it in our Lawn Care Manual or Sprinkler System Installation Manual that you can order elsewhere on this site. Let's start with Establishing Turfgrass.

Establishment

   Turfgrass can be established a variety of ways. The method you choose will be determined by the situation your lawn is in. Do you have a new construction? An existing lawn that is thin and rough? A fair lawn that is just a little thin? Depending on what condition your lawn is in will determine where to start. Let's say you have a lawn that is in fair condition but needs thickened up. An easy way to do this is to Aerate and over seed. An aerator is a machine that will poke a hole in the ground (thousands of them actually) and remove a core of soil and leave it laying on the surface. These are called core aerators. Some aerators will simply push a spike into the ground creating a hole, this type is not as good. To start with, mow your grass as low as you can safely, don't throw rocks and dig dirt with the mower, but get it down to about 1" high.


This will stunt the grass and slow it's growth allowing the new grass that you will seed to get started with limited competition from the existing grass. After mowing take an aerator, rent one, buy one or borrow one, and go over the entire lawn at least twice. Depending on the model you use, the aerator will poke holes every 2 to 8 inches apart. I like to be able to look down at the lawn at any point and not see spots that don't have holes larger than 6". If you have a spot larger than 6" without holes in it, you won't have very much grass come up in that spot, so go over the lawn as many times as it takes to be sure you have holes everywhere. Once your done aerating, spread your seed. The amount of seed you use is important. If you don't use enough you won't get the desired results. Professionally, we use 350# per acre for lawns. Divided out per thousand square feet that is 8# per thousand square feet. This brings up an important point, measure the square footage of your lawn accurately and write it down. Every thing you do in lawn care will ask for how large the lawn is. Spread the seed with a spreader of any type, do not use your hand and just throw it around, you won't get even coverage. Spread the seed using half of the required amount spreading it in one direction, use the other half spreading the opposite direction creating a cross hatch pattern on the lawn. This way you are assured of getting even coverage. After spreading the seed take a drag of any type, a piece of chain link fence, a board with a rope tied to it, or what ever you can drag behind your mower. Drag the lawn, this will push and drag seed into the holes you created and break up the little plugs of soil that the aerator left on the ground, it will cover up most of the seed giving much better germination and a thicker lawn. After dragging, spread a starter fertilizer, this can be done first if you want, it really doesn't matter. A starter fertilizer has a higher middle number than first and last numbers. (More Phosphate) For complete explanation on what the numbers mean on fertilizer bags, how they affect grass and what micro-nutrients grass also needs, refer to our Lawn Care Manual. You will need to put down 8 pounds per thousand square feet of a 6-12-12 or 4 pounds per K of a 6-24-24. This will give the ground the nutrients needed to germinate and start a turf lawn, thus the name "starter fertilizer". After about a month the new grass will start to yellow off some or maybe turn pale green, this is showing you that it is time to fertilize again. Apply 6# per K of 15-15-15 this will provide the nitrogen for green and growth and phosphate and potash for root growth and overall vigor. After the grass is about 3 weeks old you should be able to start mowing. CUT IT HIGH!!! Refer to the section on mowing for more. Fertilizing will also need to be done on a regular schedule. Refer to Fertilizing for a complete schedule. If you have a new home and this is the first lawn a few things are different. Mainly you will have to do clean up and get the proper grade before working on seeding. Once this is done you will have to till up the ground to make a soft seed bed. After tilling fertilize, and seed just as described above using the same amount of seed. After this you will have to cover the entire lawn with straw. Shake out straw to cover approximately 50% of the soil from view. After done you should be able to look down and still see about half of the soil showing through the straw, no more. This equates to about 100 bales per acre. After your done strawing it's time to start watering. Soak the lawn until runoff the first watering, followed by daily waterings of sufficient length to keep the soil wet. If it dries out, the seed won't germinate.

Fertilizing

   Fertilizing the grass does more than just make it green. Of course it will make it grow too, but lot's of things happen when you fertilize. Going back to our establishment, fertilizer makes the seed germinate faster, and get started out of the ground. After the grass has a good start fertilizer will make the grass get thicker send off Rhizomes, Stolons or Tillers all making the grass thicker and healthier. What most people want to know is how much and when. Simply put, most grasses will benefit from four applications of fertilizer per year. Spread out 60 days apart starting in early spring approximately 30 days before the growing season starts in your area, continuing through the growing season until fall. Spring fertilizing gets the grass off to a fast start giving you that rich green color everyone wants. A word of warning though, don't use too much fertilizer, follow the listed guidelines on the bag, or these generic instructions. Too much fertilizer will cause excess growth, lead to Fungus growth and weaken the grass.

Weed Control

Controlling weeds in a new or existing lawn is vital to the health and overall appearance of the lawn. A beautiful smooth lawn gets most of it's good looks from the fact that it is smooth and level with no weeds sticking up above the turf. You have probably mowed your lawn before only to have dandelions popping up above the grass a day later making it look like you need to mow already. A weed free lawn holds it's good looks for several days if the grass is a monoculture with uniform growing heights.

Proper Mowing

Mowing is the most misunderstood part of lawn care, and the most often incorrectly performed part of lawn care. Far too many people will set their mowers too low or "scalp" the lawn. This leads to thin and dying out grass, shallow root systems, and in the long run, NO GRASS.

Watering

Once you have achieved the perfect lawn, after hundreds or thousands of dollars on Renovating or installing a lawn, it just doesn't make sense to let it go back to being a pasture from lack of watering or other maintenance that needs to be done. Spend a little time and money and keep it watered and you will keep the lush grass you spent your hard earned money and time on. The Ideal way to water your lawn is with an Automatic Underground Sprinkler System. This way the watering is done every day that it needs it, you don't have to drag hoses, you don't waste water from over watering, you get all of the lawn watered, not just where you happen to set the sprinkler. How many times have you started the sprinkler then forgot to move it? This wastes water and over waters some parts of the lawn while other parts may never get water because it's too far to drag a hose to. Another common problem in hand watering is that you can only run one or two sprinklers at a time. If you have a very large lawn this could take all day to water. Automatic systems will water when you program the system to come on, once a day, every other day, once a week, your choice for what needs to be watered. Also, shrubbery and annuals need to be watered separate from the lawn. If you applied the same amount of water on your landscape as gets put on the lawn you would surely kill some plants from over watering. An automatic system waters landscape plants on their own zone at the times they need it, even multiple times per day for tender annuals like impatiens.

How to Fertilize Your Lawn

Keep your lawn healthy and green by learning how to fertilize your lawn with help from Lowes.com. Lowe's brings you steps for choosing, preparing and applying fertilizer.

Why Fertilize the Lawn?

Your soil supplies some of the nutrients that turfgrass needs but most soils are not able to provide all of them during the entire growing season. A healthy and actively-growing lawn uses a great deal of energy. Fertilizer helps your lawn stay healthy by:

• Promoting new leaf and root growth.
• Aiding in recovery from foot traffic and pest damage.
• Reducing and controlling weeds.
• Replacing nutrients lost to leaching, volatilization and grass clipping removal.

Types of Lawn Fertilizer

Liquid and Granular

Fertilizer is available in two main types - liquid and granular. Choose the one that meets your lawn's needs in the form that is easiest for you to use.

• Liquid fertilizers are fast-acting. Since they are quickly absorbed, they require application every 2-3 weeks. Most are mixed with water prior to application with a garden hose attachment.

• Granular fertilizers are applied with a spreader and must be watered into the grass. Granular fertilizers are easier to control because you can actually see how much fertilizer you are using and where it is being dispersed.

Granular fertilizers are produced in two different formulations, quick-release and slow-release.

Quick-Release and Slow-Release Fertilizer

Quick-release fertilizer typically lasts for three to four weeks, depending upon the temperature and the amount of rainfall. For general use, these water-soluble nitrogen fertilizers (WSN) are also known as commodity or field grade fertilizers.

There are two main types of slow-release fertilizers, known as water-insoluble nitrogen (WIN), available for specific applications.

• Sulfur coated, which lasts for about 8 weeks.

• Polymer coated, lasting about 12 weeks.

Both time estimates may vary depending upon the amount of rainfall. To avoid unwanted growth stimulation, do not apply slow-release fertilizer late in the growing season.

Weed and Feed

Weed and Feed is a common term which refers to fertilizer that contains weed killer for broadleaf weeds such as dandelions.

• Pre-emergents, such as those commonly used to prevent crabgrass, are weed killers which must be applied before the weeds germinate. They are ineffective if the weeds are already actively growing. Pre-emergent weed killers are often mixed with fertilizer and are designed to be spread in early spring. Crabgrass normally germinates when the ground temperature reaches 60° F - the ground temperature at which dogwood trees start to bud and forsythias begin blooming.

• The weed killer in post-emergent types of fertilizers are contact killers, and are effective only if the weeds are already actively growing. They will not kill weeds which have not yet germinated.

Timing of the application of pre-and post-emergents is critical for success. Applying these products too early or too late is essentially a waste of time. Read the package carefully before selecting to be sure which product fits your needs.

Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizer is an alternative to traditional types of fertilizer that is more environmentally friendly. Like traditional fertilizers, organic fertilizer is available in several forms, including granular fertilizer and liquid fertilizer.

For the most ecofriendly option, choose an organic fertilizer that is made from ingredients that are both renewable and sustainable. This includes fertilizer made from alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, and corn gluten meal.

Another organic alternative to fertilizer is compost or composted manure. 

How to Read a Fertilizer Package Label

The three numbers (often called NPK) on a fertilizer package tell you the percentage of the base elements nutrient makeup by weight. These percentages in fertilizer compounds are formulated for everything from asparagus to zinnias. The three main components are:

• Nitrogen (symbol N) for leaf development and vivid green color.

• Phosphorous (symbol P) for root growth.

• Potassium (symbol K) for root development and disease resistance.

For example, a bag marked "16-4-8" contains 16 percent nitrogen, 4 percent phosphorous and 8 percent potassium.

The other 72 percent is usually inert filler material, such as clay pellets or granular limestone.

To know how much of each is in the bag, multiply the percentage by the size (weight) of the bag. (Example: a 50 lb. bag of 10-10-10 contains 5 pounds each of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.)

There may also be secondary elements such as calcium for root growth, magnesium for sugar formation, and sulfur for green color. The minor elements that may be present are zinc, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum and boron.

Don't feel concerned or cheated by the presence of the so-called inert material in the fertilizer bag. Its purpose is to help distribute the fertilizer evenly and prevent chemical burn.

Preparing the Lawn for Fertilizing

Step #1 - Identify Your Grass Type

Identify your grass as a cool or warm season grass. A large section of the U.S. is considered transitional, which means that both warm and cool season grasses may grow in the area. If you live in this area, a clue to your grass type is the fact that warm season grasses will turn brown after the first frost. Cool season grasses will generally stay green all year long in the cool and transitional zones. They will not survive the summers in the warm season zone.

Step #2 - Do a Soil Test

Determine the pH of your soil. pH is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of a substance. The pH of your soil is important because it determines the ability of the fertilizer to use the ingredients in the fertilizer. Your soil test will determine which fertilizer is best for you.

Bring your soil as close to neutral as possible to get the most benefit from the fertilizer you use. A pH range between 6.0 and 7.0 is accepted as being the best for growing quality grass.

Step #3 - Determine your Lawn Size

The fertilizer package will tell you how many square feet of coverage it contains. Determine the square footage of lawn to be fertilized. Fertilizers, weed-killers and other soil amendments are typically sold by the amount necessary to cover a certain square footage. Determine this figure by multiplying the length of your lawn by its width. Then, subtract the square footage of the house, driveway and other areas not to be fertilized.

An example using rough measurements:

Lawn Measurement	250 by 150 ft.	37,500 sq. ft
House Measurement	80 by 36 ft.	2,880 sq. ft.
Driveway Measurement	12 by 50 ft.	600 sq. ft.
	Total	34,020 sq. ft.

34,020 divided by 5000 sq. ft. per bag equals 6.8 or roughly 7 bags of fertilizer.

Proper Fertilizer Application

Fertilizing Cool-Season Grasses

Fertilize heavily in the fall, lightly (or not at all) in early spring.

The growing season for these grasses is mainly in the cool months of spring and fall. Cool season grasses grow best when the temperature is in the range of 60 to 70° Fahrenheit.

In fall, fertilize when the intense heat of the summer has subsided. Time your fertilization so the fertilizer will become ineffective before the onset of severe cold weather. Fall is the favorite time of year for cool season grasses, so care for these types is most important at this time of year. You may choose to apply a special winterizer fertilizer for the fall application. These fertilizers are specially-formulated to help protect the grass during the winter months.

In the spring, begin fertilizing early. You may use either slow or quick release fertilizer, but time your fertilization regimen so the fertilizer will be used up before the onset of hot summer weather.

Fertilizing Warm-Season Grasses

Fertilize when the grass starts to turn green in spring. The growing season for these grasses, depending upon the geographic area, is during late spring and summer. Warm season grasses grow best when the temperature is in the range of 80 to 95 ° Fahrenheit, although they will also grow outside of this range.

Begin fertilizing in late spring when the lawn begins to show signs of life. You may use either slow or quick release fertilizer, but time your fertilization regimen so the fertilizer will be used up before the onset of severe hot summer weather. Begin fertilizing again after the intense heat of the summer has subsided.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when fertilizing, and ensure that you time the life of the fertilizer so it is not present at the onset of severe hot or cold temperatures. Failing to do so could damage your lawn. When fertilizing, too much is not a good thing.

Broadcasting Granules

1. Make sure the spreader and fertilizer are dry.
   
2. Set the rate-of-flow lever according to the setting listed on the fertilizer bag. If you have any doubts, apply too little rather than too much.
   
3. Close the hopper vent. Place the spreader on a hard surface and fill the hopper slowly. Wear gloves and be sure to keep fertilizer away from eyes and skin.
   
4. For complete coverage, cut the recommended application rate in half and apply evenly in a criss-cross manner.
   
5. Clean the spreader thoroughly after use.

Spraying Liquid Fertilizer

1. Fill the sprayer canister with liquid fertilizer. Carefully attach the canister unit to the end of your garden hose.
2. Move at a steady pace to cover the entire lawn evenly. Walk slowly, spraying from side to side.

Types of Grasses found in America

Very few turf-type grasses currently growing in America are native to our land. Buffalograss is probably the most common native turfgrass that has been adapted to be grown as a lawn and then only in special circumstances.

Most turfgrasses were brought to this country and then adapted through selective breeding and cross-breeding to provide us with the grasses that we are most familiar with today.

There are a multitude of grass varieties, brands but there are basically only 2 grass types: Cool Season type grasses and Warm Season type grasses. Each grass type is suited primarily for one or the other seasons. There is also a narrow band that crosses the country called the Transitional Zone where some grass types for either the Cool Season or Warm Season can be grown, but that doesn't mean all of them will grow in this narrow zone.

Best Cool Season Grasses

On average, these climates have cold winters and warm to hot summers. Usually they also have regular intervals of rain throughout the summer months, but grasses will tolerate some extended periods of draught by going dormant. Typical cool season grass types include:

• Bentgrass
  
• Kentucky Bluegrass
  
• Rough Bluegrass
  
• Red Fescue
  
• Annual Ryegrass
  
• Perennial Ryegrass
  

Typical Transition Zone Grasses

There is a “transition zone” between northern and southern turfgrass regions, which follows the lower elevations of Virginia and North Carolina west through West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas and includes parts of southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. In this transition zone, neither Warm Season nor Cool Season type grasses are uniformly successful. However, several of the Cool Season type grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, do well across Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Missouri. Tall fescue is the best choice in Tennessee, North Carolina, northern Georgia, northern Alabama and the Texas panhandle. In the lower elevations of these latter states Warm Season grasses do well too. Typical grass types suitable for the Transition Zone include:

• Kentucky Bluegrass
  
• Tall Fescue
  
• Perennial Ryegrass
  
• Thermal Blue
  
• Zoysiagrass
  

Warm Season Type Grasses

In some ways, growing and maintaining a good-looking lawn in the South is more involved than for northern homeowners. Choosing a grass type is trickier; many turf grass varieties do much better when started as plugs or sod than from seed, as is usually done with Cool Season turf-type grasses. Good soil is critically important for growing a low maintenance lawn in this region. Most all Warm Season grass types will turn brown when cooler temperatures arrive. Some southern gardeners seed their existing lawns with ryegrass each fall to maintain green color during the winter months. This is called “winter overseeding.”
Maintaining ideal growing conditions for your particular grass type is critical, otherwise unwanted grass varieties will start popping up and will be extremely difficult to remove. For example, St. Augustine grass being invaded by Bermuda and vice versa.
Typical Warm Season grass types include:

• Bahia
  
• Bermudagrass
  
• Buffalograss
  
• Carpetgrass
  
• Centipede
  
• St. Augustinegrass
  
• Zoysiagrass

Types of Grasses found in America, http://www.american-lawns.com/grasses/grasses.html#