Archive for the ‘Lawn Care’ Category
Sunday, January 15th, 2012
Dormant winter grass protection will enhance growth and vibrancy in the spring. The cold weather is harsh on grass even in the milder temperatures of California. It’s important to build up tolerance to the cooler weather, disease and pests. Wet, brown grass is not ‘dead’; it’s just resting and still needs the right care to ensure it remains healthy. Start your preparations now to see satisfying results when everything starts to bloom again.
Here are some tips on dormant winter grass protection:
- Have the lawn around your commercial property professionally cleaned up. Remove weeds to prevent them from stifling grass and overrunning your garden in spring.
- Have the lawn raked by a landscape maintenance company to remove thatch, dead grass, leaves and other foreign objects and allow it to breathe. Rotting leaves can increase the soil acidity level which is detrimental to the health of your grass.
- Aerate the soil to remedy compaction and give the roots easy access to nutrients and water.
- Fertilize it to put back the essential nutrients, restore soil balance and build resistance to fluctuating temperatures.
- Treat it for any disease or pest issues. Neglect will only intensify the problem.
- Avoid watering in the cold. It will create soggy conditions and encourage mold and rot.
- Limit foot traffic to avoid trampling dormant grass; it will also help protect the root system.
- Hire experienced lawn professionals for year-round maintenance and grass health.
Take dormant winter grass protection seriously. A few simple measures will reduce your effort and stress in the spring time. An experienced landscape maintenance company has the knowledge and resources to get the job done right.
Tags: dormant winter grass, grass protection, winter lawn care
Posted in Lawn Care, Winter Plant Care | No Comments »
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
Flora Terra offers expert lawn maintenance and renovation to enhance the professional image of your company. Ongoing monitoring and upkeep of your grounds can reduce watering costs along with maintenance expenses. Growing quality turf or grass is not difficult but takes time, patience and effort. You can use the best quality sod or grass seed but without proper and regular care the results will be less than satisfactory.
Tips on lawn maintenance and renovation
- Improving soil quality: Soil composition changes over time with the weather and handling – high traffic areas are especially vulnerable. Poor soil cannot provide your grass with the nutrients it needs. Replenishing your lawn with good quality top soil once a year is a good way to develop strong, disease-resistant grass.
- Periodic fertilization: Rain, frost and wind deplete nutrients, which are essential for a vibrant lawn. Regular fertilization programs will refill the essential vitamins that it requires.
- Adequate Watering: Proper lawn maintenance means adequate not over watering. Long periods of irrigation are preferable to frequent and short watering cycles that don’t penetrate the soil. Excess water leads to swampy conditions that encourage mold growth and reduce the soil’s ability to breathe.
- Proper mowing techniques: It’s better to mow frequently so that you don’t cut more than one third of the grass blades at a time. Keep the lawn short in spring and fall but longer during summer to reduce stress and encourage good growth.
- Timely renovation: If your grass is showing extreme signs of wear and tear, it’s time to invest in lawn renovation. Overuse, disease, wrong type of grass, etc. are difficult to correct and it may be best to start over.
- Regular maintenance: There are no shortcuts to regular lawn maintenance. A vibrant turf is the result of continuous care.
Get an experienced landscaping company, like FloraTerra to take over your lawn maintenance and renovation so you can maintain a professional corporate image.
Tags: Lawn maintenance, lawn maintenance tips, lawn renovation
Posted in Landscape Renovation, Lawn Care | No Comments »
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
Soil testing and analysis is important for good soil balance. It determines:
- Soil type/composition – essential to plant selection
- Nutrient content and pH levels – influences plant growth and health
- Deficiencies – helps identify the kind of soil treatments and fertilization programs required
- Contaminants – helps formulate an effective remedial plan
While there are many do-it-yourself soil testing kits available, the analysis is not comprehensive and results aren’t always accurate.
Successful soil testing includes:
- Taking a couple of samples from different areas of your landscape. Proper handling of the samples is crucial to the accuracy of analysis.
- Conducting a detailed laboratory analysis of the samples – going beyond major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to include pH levels and secondary nutrients like sulphur, calcium and magnesium.
- Interpreting the results in terms of plant growth or yield
- Using the results to improve the health and vibrancy of your landscape
Soil composition changes with time, weather and handling. Periodic tests will make landscape management easier.
An experienced landscaping company like Flora Terra has the experience and the equipment to conduct accurate soil testing and report the important details you need.
Tags: soil analysis, soil balance, soil testing
Posted in Landscape Renovation, Lawn Care | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
Custom Tailored Fertilization Programs
Custom tailored fertilization programs provide the specialized care that your plants and trees require. Vibrant trees and plants are rarely the result of general, off-the-shelf solutions and we can match the right materials and feeding schedule your landscaped areas and grasses need.
What are the advantages of customized tree fertilization programs?
- Correct diagnosis: Effective solutions are the result of knowing your trees’ needs. A professional tree assessment will determine exactly what you’re dealing with enabling you to take the right course of action.
- Problem-oriented solutions: General applications are typically trial-and-error. If they work, the solution is only temporary and doesn’t get to the root of the problem. Custom tailored fertilization programs deliver specific solutions to quickly restore tree health.
- Species-specific care: Oaks, palms and fruit trees have very precise requirements. All-purpose tree fertilization treatments don’t provide the specialized care that each species requires.
- Matching your growing conditions: Soil and climate play an important role in tree health. In order to be effective, treatments must take your individual landscape and growing conditions into account.
Maintaining tree health is a time-consuming and continuous effort. Custom tailored fertilization programs provide the detailed attention and proven treatments that boost tree health. Hiring an experienced landscape management company will get you the results you’re looking for.
Tags: custom, fertilization, plant, tree
Posted in Arborist Services, Lawn Care, Tree Care | No Comments »
Sunday, July 10th, 2011
Regular applications of organic weed and pest control will keep your garden vibrant and healthy. Neglect often results in an infestation that is difficult to get rid of. Here’s how you can prevent this from happening.
Weed and Pest Control Tips
- Get to the weeds on time: Ignoring weeds adds to the problem. They will spread to other areas and eventually overrun your whole garden. Don’t give weed spores a chance to take root and deprive your plants of essential nutrients.
- Identifying problems: Weeds, insects or disease ;it’s easier to find a solution once you have identified what you’re dealing with. A one-for-all treatment doesn’t work for persistent weeds or pests that have become immune to it. You need specialized pest prevention assistance.
- Use organic weed and pest control treatments: Chemicals are harmful to humans, pets and the environment. There are several organic weed and pest control measures you can practice like…
- Corn gluten, vinegar or a mild detergent (combined with vinegar or water)
- Pre-emergent and post-emergent organic solutions available in the market
- Installing landscaping fabric and mulch
- Investing in a good weed puller
- Know when to call in the experts: If your garden is infested with weeds and pests, it’s time to call in the experts. You need a lasting solution and that may involve several applications of a carefully formulated treatment. Anything else is just temporary reprieve.
- Ensure regular maintenance: The best form of weed and pest control is prevention. Regular maintenance, especially cleanup during spring and fall reduces your risk. If you don’t have the time or staff, hire an established landscape maintenance company.
Weed and pest control require experience and timely attention. A professional landscape maintenance service has the training and the resources to keep your property in top condition.
Tags: Pest Control, weed control
Posted in Lawn Care, Pest Control | No Comments »
Saturday, May 28th, 2011
Planning a turf renovation? Late summer and fall are the best time for your lawn makeover. A vibrant green turf is every property owner’s pride and joy. If yours has lost color, it’s time to get your hands dirty.
Follow our recommended steps for a successful turf renovation.
- Weed out your problems: Deal with weeds, pests and disease before turf renovation. There are many solutions available in the market. However, specific treatments are more effective.
- Improve soil quality: Your lawn needs nutrient rich soil to grow strong and healthy. Get a soil analysis to understand your soil type (clay, loam, etc.) and requirements before you make any amendments. Using a good quality top dressing will also improve resistance to weather fluctuations, pest and disease.
- Choose the right grass type: Select grass that is suitable to your growing conditions. Climate, shade or sun, and type of soil influence growth and maintenance. Choose grass that is hardy.
- Prepare the soil for planting: Whether you’re using sod or seed, there is no short cut to soil preparation. Fill in holes, even out the lawn area and aerate to reduce soil compaction. Grass roots need easy access to moisture and nutrients in the soil.
- Seed your lawn correctly: Seeding the correct amount and in the appropriate manner enhances turf growth. Seed in both directions, at right angles. If you’re not confident about how to do it, get an experienced landscaping company to manage your turf renovation.
- Maintain a proper watering schedule: New seeds and sod need to be watered on a regular basis to prevent them from drying out. Keep them moist and avoid over watering.
- Don’t forget to fertilize: Fertilize after a month to boost growth and disease resistance. Follow the recommended usage and watering practices to keep your newly installed lawn healthy.
- Be diligent about lawn maintenance: A vibrant lawn is the result of careful maintenance. Don’t neglect the mowing, watering, weeding or pest control.
Turf renovation and maintenance is a full time job. If you don’t have the time or the inclination, hire a reliable landscaping maintenance service to do the job.
Tags: turf renovation
Posted in Landscape Renovation, Lawn Care | No Comments »
Saturday, May 14th, 2011
Organic weed control avoids the use of strong chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals, birds and the environment. Why use toxic weed killers when eco-friendly products and a few simple weed prevention steps can do the job.
What are the best practices for organic weed control?
- Identify the weed: Knowing what you’re dealing with is an important part of the solution. Few weeds respond to general treatments.
- Try organic herbicides: Pre-emergent weed control destroys the seed (of the weed) while post-emergent treatments is meant for full-grown weeds. Corn gluten, vinegar and some detergents (combined with vinegar or water) are effective organic herbicides.
- Install landscape fabrics: Prevention is better than cure. Installing landscaping fabric in your vegetable and flower beds discourages weed growth.
- Invest in a good weed puller: The latest weed pullers require less effort and are more effective. They can help you root out the problem.
- Use mulch for tree and flower beds: Using mulch is a form of organic weed control. It’s a natural weed suppressant.
- Use good quality topsoil: Cheap topsoil often has weeds in it. Using it will aggravate the problem or even create one. Invest in nutrient-rich, high quality soil to improve growth and prevent weed infestations.
- Don’t neglect spring and fall clean up: Whether you have a weed problem or not it’s important to give your landscape that once-over every fall and spring. A neglected or overgrown garden attracts weeds.
- Get regular landscaping maintenance: Some weeds like crabgrass and rhubarb are difficult to get rid of. Regular weed treatments and landscaping maintenance will effectively eliminate your problem.
Whether it’s a medical complex, retail property, commercial building or HOA, maintaining a weed-free landscape is not easy. Weed spores from the neighboring property or a stubborn variety can ruin your curb appeal. An experienced landscaping company with proven organic weed control treatments will restore health and vibrancy to your commercial landscape.
Tags: organic, weed control
Posted in Landscape Renovation, Lawn Care, Sustainable Landscaping | No Comments »
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Avoid water runoff by providing the just the right amount of irrigation for your landscape. Water is a precious resource and one that is fast depleting. Watering wisely not only promotes conservation but also improves plant and turf health.
Did you know that water run off washes away vital nutrients from the soil? It also causes ponding and swamp-like conditions which encourage rotting. Puddles or runoffs on your sidewalk, patio and driveway lead to a premature deterioration of your expensive hardscapes.
5 things you can do to avoid water runoff
- If it does not need to stay green, don’t water it! Keep sprinkler heads from unnecessarily spraying your foundation walls, driveway, patio and other hardscapes. Concrete, asphalt and brickwork will wear out faster when constantly sprayed with water.
- Look for signs of ponding and soggy soil as you walk around your landscape. It’s a sure sign of overwatering and can certainly be damaging. Watering correctly saves time, money and plants.
- Get a landscape survey to determine your growing conditions and apply the right amount of water. Knowing the soil type, grading and climate will help formulate a proper irrigation plan.
- Check your watering system for leaks. A broken, clogged or malfunctioning irrigation system is a common cause of water wastage and runoffs.
- Install water-efficient irrigation systems. Drip tubes and SMART controllers allow for more precise watering to ET rates, eliminating the risk of ponding and runoffs.
Water efficiency will not affect your curb appeal. Plants and grass develop stronger roots and are more resistant to temperature fluctuations when you use the right irrigation techniques. Watering wisely will also lower your usage and bills significantly. Ask an established landscaping and water management service to determine your exact requirements and help you avoid water runoff.
Tags: water runoff
Posted in Lawn Care, Sustainable Landscaping, Water Use Reduction | No Comments »
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Knowing the Dos and Don’ts for watering will not only promote plant health and growth, you will lower your water bills too. One of the most important ones is to know “when is the best time to water” your landscape. Here are some guidelines to help you water wisely.
Choosing the right time to water will save your plants and money
- The best time to water is generally early in the morning before the temperatures start to rise. It gives plants enough water to combat the heat throughout the day.
- If it is not possible to water in the morning then do it late afternoon or early evening when temperatures have cooled down a bit.
- Avoid watering when the sun is at its height and in the blistering heat. The rate of evaporation is much faster.
- Never water at night. It encourages fungal disease. When watering in the evening make sure that your plants and grass have sufficient time to dry before nightfall. Also choose a method or an irrigation system that will not wet the leaves.
- Don’t water when it’s windy. It’s a waste. The water will only blow off onto your hardscapes and cause premature damage. Most often winds are at their lowest early in the morning.
- It is not necessary to water if you’ve had enough of rain. Remember it’s not frequent watering but lengthy cycles that promote plant health.
Having an irrigation system that’s suited to the needs of your commercial landscape is as important as being aware of when is the best time to water. An established landscaping maintenance service will eliminate trial and error that could affect your curb appeal and damage your plants. They will install the latest water-efficient irrigation with SMART controllers to promote more precise watering and avoid any runoff. They will also make sure that your plants have the type of care they need, and that your sprinklers, drip tubes and pipes are in optimum working condition.
Tags: when to water
Posted in Lawn Care, Water Use Reduction | No Comments »
Saturday, December 4th, 2010
Water efficient landscaping is the ideal solution to fast depleting resources and California’s history of drought. Garden and lawn care account for a tremendous increase in demand especially during the summer months. The EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) urges us to adopt water-wise, water-smart, low-water or water efficient landscaping to remedy the situation. Californians who practice sustainable landscaping and water management can easily avoid over-use penalties and reduce landscape maintenance cost.
What does water efficient landscaping involve?
- Landscape design that includes soil and climate appropriate plant selection
- Grouping plants according to the amount of water they require
- Planting native, low-water-use flora and fauna
Contact Flora Terra Landscape Management to learn more.
Tags: water efficient landscaping
Posted in Lawn Care, Sustainable Landscaping, Water Use Reduction | No Comments »
