Have you looked at a golf course and wondered how they keep the lawn perfectly manicured 365 days a year? Of course, you have. While you may not know the exact process, you probably guessed a horticulturist and a team of lawn care professionals worked together to achieve it. So here are the kind of tips that a lawn care expert would give you about early spring lawn care.

The Importance of Lawns

According to Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, “One of the most powerful symbols of modern urban landscapes is the lawn.’ They can provide 75% of open spaces. Parks, gardens, cemeteries and golf courses are the places where people gather for a specific event.

Here are facts provided by Pennington.

  • Lawns process 12 million tons of dust and dirt from the air.
  • A 50 square-foot lawn produces enough oxygen for 4 people.

Green lawns provide oxygen. Well-maintained yards and lawns are safe places for children to play. In other words, lawns are an important part of our lives.

The Science of Lawn Care

Since lawns provide a valuable service to people, insects, urban environments, and society, an expert is needed to manage them; whether at a golf course or in Cedar City, Utah, or Price, Utah. A horticulturist is responsible for the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, plants, lawns, and flowers and provides the “know-how” for a green and healthy lawn.

Horticulturists are scientists who coordinate research. They supervise a team of lawn care laborers and turf grass specialists to maintain the health of the grounds and gardens.

7 Tips for a Healthy Lawn

Although it does involve mosquito yard control, grubs, and fungus treatments, it goes beyond that. Determining when you should fertilize your lawn requires expert analysis by lawn care professionals and is very climate specific so what creates the best-looking lawns in Cedar City may not be the same thing that creates the best-looking lawns in Price, Utah.

At Everything Exterior, our team of lawn care laborers, yard care technicians, and turf grass specialists have the science-based knowledge to know when to fertilize your lawn and how long to run the sprinklers.

Follow these guidelines to ensure your lawn receives the best treatment for maximum results.

  1. Monitor the Soil’s Temperature
    In Cedar City, there are “cool season” grasses, Bluegrass and Fescue being the most common for thick, healthy lawns. In July, the average temperatures range from 70 F–102 F. Comparatively, the temperature stays warmer longer.

Here are some general temperature ratings and lawn care guidelines.

  • 105 F – Shoot growth stops.
  • 100 F – Root growth stops.
  • 70 F–85 F – Optimum shoot growth.
  • 75 F–85 F – Optimum root growth.
  • 40 F – Root decline “dormancy” is activated. Grass shoots begin to brown.
  1. Eliminate Weeds
    If you don’t take steps to control weed growth before spring (when the soil temperature reaches about 50-55 F), your yard will be overcome by weeds in May or June.

At 50-55 F, the germination of many Cedar City weeds begins. Apply pre-emergent herbicides early, before soil temperatures reach this level.

At 53 F–58F, germination of crabgrass is expected. Again, apply a pre-emergent herbicide.

    1. Absorb Sound, Block Wind, and Provide Shade
      The leaves and branches of plants absorb sound vibrations. A sturdy tree bark absorbs sound well. Tree species with a lot of branches and thick leaves are the best at capturing noise. Trees and larger shrubs can also provide a wind break and shade and hence lead to a more enjoyable time spent on your beautifully manicured Cedar City lawn.

 

    1. Collect and Test Rainfall
      Soil needs the moisture rain provides. However, some rain can have a low acidic level. High or low acidity means the grass can’t absorb nutrients properly so its growth may be hindered. In the summer, some types of grass can grow six inches in one week. In Cedar City’s climate, most soil is slightly basic (between 7-8.5 on the pH scale) and can benefit from becoming more acidic.

 

    1. Prevent Runoff and Erosion
      If an area of your yard doesn’t have vegetation, soil erosion can occur. So grow grass in that space and let the roots stabilize the soil. The turf can prevent a decrease of the topsoil. If a steep slope has erosion, use wood or rock-retaining walls to level it in terraces.

 

    1. Test the Soil
      Conducting a soil test will reveal what nutrients you need to have the best lawn care in Cedar City. It can detect ants in your lawn and indicate the status of your turf grass. Fungus that affects your grass resulting in disease can be discovered. It can also measure the abundance of chemicals present in an over fertilized lawn to help create a customized fertilizer plan.

 

  1. Eliminate Pollutants from the Environment
    Some of the talk of fertilizers and chemicals may lead one to believe that large amounts of artificially created products are needed to have a great looking lawn and yard. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the opposite is actually true. The best weed prevention is a thick lawn root system. This eliminates the need for chemicals all while increasing soil health, filtering out carbon dioxide, and preventing run-off. This leads to the opposite of the “greenhouse” effect, and fights global warming and ozone layer depletion.

Lawn care is a science. So consult with a lawn care service professional like Everything Exterior. Get the superior level of service that makes golf courses beautiful and your yard the envy of the neighbors.