Nothing sticks out like an eyesore than a lawn over-run with weeds in an otherwise immaculate yard. If you happen to be an avid gardener or an enthusiast, having some moderate knowledge of weeds and how to control them would be very beneficial. On the other hand, it would also be wise to have the contact number of a good lawn care professional, just in case you decide to let the experts handle it for you.

Some weeds can be much more difficult to eradicate and control than others. For example, field bindweed (also known as morning glory) is one of the more difficult weeds to control and may require multiple treatments. Other weeds such as dandelions can be much easier to control. There are many different types of products on the market to control weeds. For example, an ester based weed control product works best in cooler temperatures (spring & fall). While amine based products work best in warmer temperatures (summer). Some weed control products kill everything, including the grass. You also need to make sure that the active ingredient in the product you are using will work on the type of lawn weed you are trying to eradicate.

Suffice it to say that if you are contemplating hiring a professional lawn care company, you won’t regret it. Sometimes it is nice to sit back, breathe a sigh of relief and let the experts handle it – making sure your lawn is getting the proper care and attention that it truly deserves. Now having said all that, it doesn’t mean that you are completely on your own and at the mercy of all those dreadful weeds. There are resources available to help you rectify your weed issues. As long as you are willing to put in the time and learn about the different types of weeds, weed control products and treatment procedures, it can be done. Here are some basic ground rules to help you find the resources to manage weed issues 24/7.

Online Forums & Communities: There are resources and insightful information available at your disposal from online forums and online social gardening communities. Be sure to regularly frequent them if you’re having problems and need help figuring it out.

Don’t Experiment and Guess

It would be sensible not to do any self-diagnosis and or treatments without the proper knowledge and know how. Nor is it wise to take any remedial action without knowing what you are using and how to use it properly. If you don’t have the time or expertise to control weeds, it’s best to let a lawn professional tackle those pesky lawn weeds, given the years of experience, coupled with the proper tools, materials, and weed control products at their disposal.

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A professional lawn care service is the best option for people who don’t have the expertise and/or the time to deal with the demands of their lawn. Instead of working half-heartedly on your lawn, it would be better to hire a lawn professional who has the knowledge of what to do and when to do it.

A well-kept lawn not only looks good, it also increases the value of your property. When a lawn is neglected, the property looks un kept and an un kept property brings down the value of your property. A neglected lawn can also become a magnet for diseases and insects.

Once a lawn has reached this state, repairing the damage can be very costly and requires a great deal of work. This is why having a professional lawn service is best for people who don’t have the expertise or the time their lawn demands.

Some basic benefits of hiring a professional to service your lawn include:

Convenience – A professional lawn service is convenient. Having someone come by to take care of your lawn periodically, not only keeps your lawn looking good but it also takes the task out of your hands and out of your mind.

Expertise – Professional lawn service providers bring with them years of expertise, and this is why they know what is required in keeping a lawn looking attractive.

Eases Lawn Management – Lawn management is a science, not an art. In order to keep a lawn attractive, you need to have the knowledge and know how as to what fertilizer is needed to take care of the lawn based on seasons, temperature and humidity etc. The right product combination is required to keep the lawn looking good and the wrong fertilizer or application rates can damage a lawn.

However, there are certain things to look for when hiring a lawn professional.

Three of the most important things to look at before hiring a professional service include references, expertise and value. It might seem that reputation or references isn’t as important as experience or affordability. However, due to the fact that you want to bring in professionals to make your work easier, a good reputation will prove that their service is exceptional. The last thing you want to do is call the service providers constantly because they never bothered to show up or left work incomplete. This is why choosing a company with a good reputation is important, it will make your work load lighter rather than increase your load.

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Mow Frequently with Sharp Blades

Frequent cutting forces grass to grow thick and a thick lawn will help keep weeds out. Keep mower blades sharp so the grass isn’t beat up and made vulnerable to disease. Never cut more than a third of the grass blade at any one time. If your grass is three inches tall, cut only an inch or less. Any deeper and you’re “scalping” the blades, and putting your lawn at risk for disease. It can take two or three mowing cycles for lawn to recover.

Don’t Cut Glass Blades Too Short

Mow using one of the higher settings on your mower. Tall grass shades out weeds and promotes a deeper root system. The deeper the roots, the better your lawn will resist disease and the less water it will require. The preferred mowing height for most Utah turf grasses is 2.5 to 3 inches.

Don’t Mow a Wet Lawn

Mowing when the lawn is saturated with water will compact the soil so the roots can’t breathe. When that happens, the grass dies and you’ll see bald spots in your lawn.

Leave Grass Clippings Where They Fall

If you’re cutting often, the clippings are short and will quickly decompose, adding nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular belief, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water and loaded with nutrients.

Water Deeply and Less Frequently

The key is to thoroughly water so moisture soaks down to the root zone. Light, frequent watering is less efficient and encourages a shallow root system. Watering requirements will vary based on the time of year, weather conditions, the temperature, and soil conditions. For example, if your soil is a sandy, it will not retain as much water as clay loam soil, and will require more frequent watering in smaller volumes. As temperatures increase during the hot periods of summer, you will need more frequent watering applications to maintain a lush lawn. You may want to start out by watering once a week in early spring and increase to twice a week in late spring/early summer and then 3 times a week in the summer.

Avoid nighttime watering

Don’t put the lawn to sleep with wet feet. This Means to let the grass dry out before the dew falls – since prolonged moisture invites disease. The best time to water is pre-dawn or early morning, between 3-7am. Watering during the day wastes water due to excessive evaporation and can scald the lawn when temperatures are high.

Aerating

Core aeration softens the soil and creates pockets in the soil to help deliver air, water, fertilizer and nutrients to the turf root system. Aeration helps with thatch build-up and promotes a healthy, vigorous lawn and root system. This is recommended once a year for residential lawns.

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