Finally, the long, hot days of summer are beginning to cool and the leaves are starting to turn.  For many of us, this past summer was extraordinarily hot and dry.  Many people experienced high water bills as they made the attempt to keep their lawns quenched and free from drying out too badly.  Even though the days are now becoming a bit cooler, the best advice is to not completely stop the watering process…just yet.

As many people who live within the southern part of the United States already know, just because the calendar says “Autumn”, the thermometer may still be saying “Summer”.  Lawn experts generally agree that property owners should continue to water their lawns well into late fall.  In fact, in areas that receive very little precipitation, say an inch or less during a week’s time span, then you may need to continue watering throughout the winter months, as well.
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​Most lawns, especially warm weather grasses, require moisture on a year-round basis.  In the cooler months, even though your lawn will not require quite as much water as it does in the extreme heat conditions, it will remain “thirsty” and require some water all the time.  The best practice is to monitor your grass on a regular basis and water as needed throughout the fall and winter seasons.

Any lawn is susceptible to getting a disease or fungus. However, the healthier the grass, the better chance it will have to fight off a disease that tries to invade it.  Lawn diseases are no fun to deal with.  Nonetheless, they must be dealt with, and the sooner the better.  Some diseases that are left untreated can actually become so engrossed in the grass and the grass roots that the only solution is to kill any remaining grass blades and start with brand new grass.  This can be very costly, if this is the only solution.  There are certain things that you can watch for that could be signs of a formulating disease on your lawn.  Following is a list of some of the things to look out for.

Keep tabs on color changes
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Some grass blades will change colors due to extenuating circumstances, such as the presence of grubs, unbalanced nutrients, or dog urine that has come into contact with the grass.  However, if you notice areas of unexplained color changes on the grass, then it could be a sign of lawn disease.  Keep an eye on color changes and consult with a professional lawn care company if you suspect the presence of a disease.

It’s that time of year once again when the daylight is longer, the temperatures can’t get any hotter, and the greenery all around us requires vigilant overseeing by a caretaker.  One activity that a lot of property owners engage in during this time of year is the watering processes of their lawns.  Grasses need to receive water throughout these hot summer months, but there are some particular techniques that landscape caregivers should consider.

Within this article, you will find some of the main watering mistakes that people make when it comes to watering their lawns.  There is a fine balance between providing the right amount of water that a lawn needs and not wasting water, time, or unnecessary attention to the lawn.  This guide should help you improve the beauty, healthfulness, and longevity of a beautiful yard for all to enjoy throughout the summer months and beyond.
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If you have an automatic sprinkler system, then one common mistake people make is to set the sprinkler system on automatic and then forget about it.  Local weather changes all of the time, and it is important for you to keep an eye on changing weather patterns.  For example, during times of heavy rainy periods, you will not need to run your sprinkler system because nature is providing adequate water for your lawn.  However, when you turn off your automatic setting, you will need to make sure you reset the switch for another time.  By depending on mother nature to provide water when she can, you are responsibly conserving water resources. ​

When thinking about the trees in our environment, a writer once stated, “Learn character from trees, values from roots and change from leaves.”  Most of us probably take the beautiful, sturdy trees all around us for granted, as we quietly depend on their consistent, stable presence.  Within your own surroundings, there are certainly things that you can do to help protect your trees and provide them with the healthiest conditions possible.  Every single tree is susceptible to damage or disease, but with proper tree and shrub care, the trees in your yard can be prepared for all of the elements that could prove harmful to them.  In this article, you will find tips and ideas of various ways to keep your trees healthy throughout the year:

1. Provide Mulch Around the Base of your Trees
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​There are a variety of materials that can be chosen for mulch around your trees, based on preferred visual appeal, cost, and personal preference.  It is important to choose a mulch that works for your environment, because mulch provides a safety net for your trees.  Mulch around the base of a tree will provide a barrier against lawn equipment, thus protecting the tree from receiving damage during lawn care routines.  Mulch also helps the tree retain moisture within its root system.  This is especially important during the warm seasons of the year.

There is nothing like the sight of a lush, thick expanse of open grass area to run and play in on a warm, sunny afternoon.  Whether you want to frolic in it or just enjoy the beautiful vision of the deep green-colored grass, one thing is for sure, and that is that a beautiful lawn is much more appealing and inviting than a struggling lawn.  A simple task that you can do in order to ensure a beautiful lawn like this is to fertilize it properly.  Although fertilization can be an expense, it is important for providing a healthy, welcoming area for you and your family to enjoy.
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Many experts compare fertilizer for grasses as we would compare food for our bodies.  Although we can last on water and minimal nutrients alone, we thrive and flourish if we are given well-balanced nutrients that are geared towards our particular body.  The same is true for your grass.  It is important to discover what nutrients your grass is lacking; therefore, you can provide fertilizer that it greatly needs.  Soil testing is one way to discover what your lawn has and needs in terms of nutrients.  Once a soil test is performed and you know the pH level of your grass, then you can easily determine which fertilizer to use.

For most people, making the decision to hire a lawn care company comes down to whether or not they feel it is worth the investment, or if they should perform the services themselves.  While doing all of your own lawn care may seem to be the most cost-effective and rewarding way to go, there are several reasons why hiring a lawn care company is a good idea:

The actual savings of doing your own lawn care really aren’t what you’d expect.  Purchasing the right amount of product necessary to treat your lawn for a full year from a home and garden center costs about the same, if not more than, a yearly lawn care plan.  If you try to cut corners to save some extra money, you won’t get the results you want for your lawn. ​