My Back Yard Care Tips

Best Lawns: Sometimes It’s A Simple Lawn That Makes The Best Lawns!

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:35:32 +0000

What makes the Best Lawns is a simple low maintenance lawn that gives you the time to spend with your family. Lawns can be very expensive, year after year and it may mean starting over every year because of… lack of rain fall or disease in the grass. I know, that’s easier said than done. But with a little thought, it just might just be possible to create the perfect lawn.

Looking back a hundred years or so people did not have the ability to take care of a nice grass lawn so they came up with alternatives to make the front of the house look nice. Going back in time may not be a bad thing. Like my mom always said, the old ways are sometimes the best ways.

This is a good time to look at your property and see what you can do with it to make it as low maintenance as possible. Only you know what is best for you but here are some ideas of ways to start your super lawns.

Put in more garden areas and fill them with very low maintenance plants like ornamental grasses. Plant seasonal bulbs that come up at different times so you always have color and plant fill. In the spots that do not have any plants you can mulch. Before putting in garden beds, do yourself a favor and lay down some garden cloth and only put holes where your plants will be. This will encourage weed control.
Another use for a garden bed is putting in an English garden. English gardens are great because they take on a life of their own. There is no order and some would say they are messy but they are very colorful and serve a big purpose. Putting in all types of wild flowers and creeping plants will make for a great looking garden. Let the creeping plants flow over walls and walkways as well.
So many people have trouble growing grass in shade areas, so why not put in a shade garden. Putting in perennial plants that will grow with little water and love the indirect light will make your lawn look better than the grass you have been trying to grow.
I know that whole yard cannot be gardens. We all fight with many of the weeds we should be embracing. Letting the clover and the moss grow could be a good thing. Clover is a great choice because it’s drought tolerant insect resistant and just hard to kill. Same with moss, it does better when you walk on in.

Bottom line, you have options but you just need to step back and look at what is giving you the most problems. Maybe it’s time to embrace them and get the easy lawn you have been looking for.

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Super Lawns: Environmental Ways To Make Your Lawn Super!

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:00:17 +0000

Super Lawns come in all shapes and sizes but what do I mean when I say super lawns? To me it’s a lawn with an eco friendly purpose. All lawns are more eco friendly than say a parking lot, but what puts a lawn in the super category… would be one on a roof top.
Here are a few examples of what I think of when I think of super lawns. These all can get into much detail but I just want to give you something to think about and maybe give someone an idea to look into further.
•   Let’s start with the roof top lawn. Putting grass on your roof and making it a living roof is great for the environment. Keeping the water from running off a roof and into the sewer system is a big help for the environment. An earth and sod roof is also a great insulator, keeping the heat in during the winter and the house cool in the summer. If you have a flat roof to start with you may want to look into a living roof.
•   Driveway lawn. Most driveways today are made of an impervious material so when it rains the water just runs into the street and down the sewer. The problem is with heavy rain falls carrying the runoff and pollutants into the sewers. Along with the environmental issues, the water damage and accidents from the flooding are a big issue. We can help by putting in driveways and other landscaping patios and walkways using porous alternatives. Placing bricks and pavers apart from one another will allow water to run through into the ground and you can plant grass in between them for a more even surface.
•   Putting in swales instead of berms is another good way to keep the water runoff of pollutants from getting into the sewer systems. A swale will hold the water so it has a chance to be absorbed into the ground. Berms just divert the water into an area that is most likely already over run with too much water.
•   Try planting trees and bushes that thrive on water. A weeping willow tree just loves the water. So does bamboo, now you do need to be careful with bamboo. It will get out of hand and spread quickly, but with a little thought you can keep it under control.

There are so many more ways we can all help the environment with our lawns. Just look around and see what you can do to help. It’s sometimes the little things that make the biggest difference.

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Lawn Mowers Care: Discover 7 Steps To Caring For Your Lawn Mower!

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:28:25 +0000

Lawn Mowers Care is as important as caring for your family car. Caring for your lawn mower is a big step to a greener lawn. Take care of your push lawn mower or riding lawn mower and it will take care of you. Here are the 7 steps to caring …for your lawn mower and lawn mower parts.
•   Before you start the season you should check your spark plug. Take it out and clean the tip with a small wire brush or with some emery cloth. You can also check the gap and reset it if needed. The gap setting can be found in the specifications section of your owner’s manual. Replace the spark plug(s) about every 2 years or so.
•   Change the engine oil before the start of the season as well. You can fine the proper oil specifications in the owner’s manual or just use SAE 30 engine oil if you are not sure. Be sure to dispose of the oil properly.
•   Now check the air filter. You should clean it before the season and it’s a good idea to check it after a few months of mowing. When it gets hard to clean or if the filter starts to fall apart when you clean it you need to replace the air filter with a new one.
•   The gas is also very important to engine performance. Try to avoid buying a season’s worth of gas and storing it in the garage or shed. Gas that sits around for more than about a month can pick up moisture and if that gets into your gas tank it can cause problems with your carburetor and in turn cause poor engine performance.
•   Clean the mower deck top & bottom. Before you start this you want to take a few safety precautions. Whenever you are working around the blade you need to make sure there is no way the engine can turn over (start). If you need to you can remove the wire from the spark plug. Now take a scraper to the heavy build up of grass under the deck and then wash everything with the hose.
•   While you are under the deck you can check the blade(s) for sharpness. If the blade(s) need to be sharpened make sure to remove them from the mower first (never sharpen mower blades on the mower). There are a few different ways to sharpen the blades and the easiest is with a file. You can also use a grinding wheel or a belt sander with the correct belt grit type. When you are done with the sharpening and before you put it back on the mower make sure the blade is balanced. An out of balanced blade with harm the engine and give you an uneven cut. To balance the blade you can tie a string to the middle of a steel rod, then put the string through the hole so that the blade sits on the rod. The blade should stay horizontal, if it leans in one direction that means the low side is heavy and needs to have more taken off of that side.
•   Last thing to do and this should be done at the beginning of the season and maybe a few times during the season. Do a visual check of the engine and belts. Clean any oil/grease build ups you see in and around the engine. When you check the belts you want to look for any wear, cracks, splitting or fraying. Don’t take chances with the belts, it’s better to replace them and be safe.

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Greener Lawn: Find Out What It Takes To Achieve A Greener Lawn!

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:05:55 +0000

A Greener Lawn does not have to be on the other side of the fence. You too can have a greener lawn in your yard.
To achieve a beautiful lawn you need to …start at the bottom by providing your soil with the proper nutrients. It also helps to have an effective weed control program so that your grass can grow thicker and greener. A few other factors do come into play but by taking it one step at a time makes it easier.
So start at the beginning by laying down some good fertilizer. All fertilizers are not created equal so you need to know what makes a good fertilizer or better yet what type is best for you.
What is lawn fertilizer? Nitrogen, Potassium & Phosphorus are the 3 major elements in the fertilizer. The nitrogen is what promotes a healthy environment so your grass can grow into a thick lush and greener lawn. The potassium works on the roots by giving them the ability to fight off drought, disease and other abuses. While potassium works hand in hand with the nitrogen, the phosphorus does the same for the potassium by working on the root system for better stronger growth.
Before buying the fertilizer you will need to know what your lawn needs. A simple soil pH test will reveal what your soil is lacking. The fertilizers come in different percentages, so you want to buy by what you are lacking in. The package will have a set of 3 numbers on it to tell you what percentage of each element is in the mixture. The numbers are in order by nitrogen, potassium & phosphorus.
Along with your fertilizing you also need to do weed control. Weed control is a win-win for your quest to a greener lawn. Eliminating the weeds will promote grass growth and spreading and in turn it will choke out the new weeds trying to grow. When your grass is not competing with the weeds for the nutrient, it able to grow stronger, thicker & healthier.
Now this is a great start but a few more things you will need to do to make sure you get the green lawn you are looking for.
There are many types of grasses and they all have their strong points so why not take advantage of their strengths. So always overseed your lawn with a mixture of grass seeds taking into account the different areas of your lawn that have different concerns.

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Lawns To Mow This Weekend? Is it a chore or a love affair?

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:44:09 +0000

For most people it is just something that needs to get done over the weekend. Why is it such a chore? May be you want your lawn to looks like the perfect lawn but it just never turns out that way.
Hundreds of years ago people did not worry about mowing their lawns. They did not have lawns to mow… because it was left to grow wild or they had gardens to take up the space of a lawn. But starting in the mid 1800’s people found that they wanted a nice trimmed lawns around their houses and the chore began.
So what do we do now besides pushing lawn mowers around the yard on a Saturday? Well there is some skill involved in obtaining a beautiful lawn.
Let’s look at a few techniques on mowing your lawn.
•   To get even lines, you need to keep your mower on a straight course and keep your wheels just inside the wheel marks from the last cut.
•   When mowing a hill, make sure to mow across the hill. This will help keep your lines straight as well as make your mowing a lot safer.
•   Keep the lawn mower chute and bagging system empty and clean. This keeps the clumps of grass off the lawn.
•   Then after each mowing clean the caked grass from under the mower deck where the blades are. This will keep your blades from binding up and let the new grass flow around like they should.
•   Also after lawn mowing, it is a good idea to hit the mower with the hose just to keep the old clippings from getting stuck in area’s they should not be. This will also keep grass from falling off onto your lawn next time you mow.
A few simple tasks can make all the difference sometimes when you have lawns to mow.

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Beautiful Lawn: X Steps To A Beautiful Lawn!

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:57:43 +0000

Getting a Beautiful Lawn sometimes seems like a dream. All lawns are not created equal so you need to look at your lawn as something special. Follow these simple steps and let that dream of a beautiful lawn come true….

Step 1, start by testing your soil. A soil test will tell you what nutrients your lawn is lacking and what types of fertilizers you need to use. If you use the wrong fertilizer it can do more harm than good. Coming up with an effective fertilization program is essential to a perfect lawn. Be sure not to use the cheaper fast-releasing fertilizers like ammonium nitrate or sulfate as these have an acidifying effect on the soil. Using a fertilizer with at least 30% (WIN) water insoluble nitrogen will last longer and provide an even level of nutrients. You can buy your own test kits from less than $15.

Step 2, check your lawn for thatch. Thatch lawn is a layer of organic matter between the soil and the top of the grass roots. Some thatch is a good thing. You want about 1/2″ of thatch, it acts as mulch. Just like the mulch in the garden maintains moisture and moderates temperature in the soil, it does the same for your grass. But a thick layer of thatch will act as a blanket and not let water reach the soil. If the water cannot get to the soil then your fertilizers and insecticides cannot get down to take care of the grubs. Removing the thatch will be a bit of work but well worth the effort in the long run. Best time to de-thatch your lawn is in the fall when the stress is not as harmful.

Step 3, aerate your lawn, and this is another good fall activity. Getting air to your lawn is just as important as it is getting the nutrients into your lawn. After aerating is a good time to overseed using a mixture of grass seed.

Step 4, is all in the mowing, trimming and pruning of your lawn grasses. After you mow your lawn take the time to trim around the gardens and along the sidewalk. Keeping a nice clean edge can also make the weed controla little easier as well. Keeping the plants and shrubs pruned does a lot for the overall look as well.

A beautiful lawn is not just a greener lawn, it’s the whole package.

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Lawn Grasses: Are All Lawn Grasses Created Equal?

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:07:28 +0000

There are many types of Lawn Grasses but with so many choices how do you know what one is right for you and your lawn?

When choosing lawn grass and grass seeds you need to know many things… about how you will be using your lawn. Answering questions like what area you live in or in what area you will be putting lawn grasses in.

Using a warm grass seed in a cool area will not work well when the temperatures fall and the grass dies from the frost. Likewise putting in cool grass types in a warm area will only cause the grass to wilt and die from the hot sun.

Before you go out looking for grass seed, know what your need to look for. Answer these questions by choosing an answer in each category. Think about how you will be planting lawns in your yard.
•    Pick your region:
Cool/Cold temperatures
Warm/Hot temperatures
•    Weather:
Rainy/Wet – Some grasses will become diseased when sitting in water.
Dry/Drought – Some grasses don’t need a lot of water but others will dry out quickly.
•    Soil type:
Sandy – This type of soil drains sometimes too well.
Clay – This type of soil does not drain well.
Rocky – You may want to add some top soil to a rocky area.
•    Site of lawn grasses:
Shady – All grasses need sun but some like the indirect sun light.
Sunny – Picking a grass that works in the sun will keep your lawn from turning brown.
•    How will you use the grass:
High Traffic – If the kids are playing on the lawn then get a high traffic seed.
Low Traffic – An area that is seen more then used.

Armed with these basic questions answered you are ready to find the lawn grasses that will work best for you and your yard. Now you can pick the seed based on cost and how you want to maintain your lawn.

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Planting Lawns: Are Planting Lawns A Muddy Mess?

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:38:03 +0000

There are many ideas about Planting Lawns and almost all of them are correct but there are a few standards that should be followed and considered. First determine if you should use grass seed or go for the grass sod lawn. …While sod will give you that instant lawn and keep you out of the mud it is expensive. But here are a few things to think about before you discount the sod. One of the biggest problems with most lawns are weeds and maintaining lawn. The best way to combat weeds in your lawn is by having a thick healthy lawn. Weeds have a hard time growing and getting themselves established when they have to fight for space.
Another is waiting the few weeks until the grass has taken and you can walk on it after watering. It might be easy to say “I will not walk around the yard after I water the lawn” but can you be sure that the kids, the dog, the neighbor’s dog and so on will stay off the lawn after it’s watered?
But planting lawns is not such a bad way to go either. If you follow these few steps first you will set yourself up for a better lawn.
Start by picking the correct grass seed for your region. If you are in a cold climate then you need a cold growing seed and that is the same if you are in a warm climate, you will need a hot growing seed. Check with your local lawn and garden center for the best seed for your area.
Picking your seed type is a benefit over using sod. Most lawn and garden centers that sell sod will only carry one or two types of sod while you will have a much bigger selection with the grass seed.
For maximum germination, grass seed needs to be about 1/4″ below the soil. When grass seed sits on the top of the soil it has a better chance of washing away during the first big rain fall.
You need to keep the soil moist for a few weeks until the grass takes hold. The water will keep the seed in good contact with the soil making the seed more likely to germinate.
Follow the basic rules and you will have a much easier time planting lawns and before you know it you will have a beautiful lush lawn and maybe even weed free.

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Maintain Lawn Equipment: Can The Average Joe Maintain Lawn Equipment?

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:21:31 +0000

To Maintain Lawn Equipment you don’t need to be an expert in mower maintenance. Take care of your tools and equipment and they will be there for you when you need them.

Whether you hire your lawn care out or not… most people have some lawn and garden equipment of their own and it must be maintained. Some people have a riding lawn mower and some have a push lawn mower and some people hire out jobs like aerate your lawn but it all comes down to taking care of the equipment and lawn mower parts.

Let’s take a look at what to maintain:
• Always start by reading and following the guidelines set by the manufacturer of your equipment.

• Keep the blades on your mower sharp and clean. You can keep them sharp with a grinder of just a simple file will do. (twice a year)
• Keep the chain on your chain saw sharp, clean & oiled. A hand held sharpening fixture can be purchased from your local lawn and garden center. (As needed)

• Maintain the sharpness of all your pruning tools. A file works great but you need to maintain the same angle. (Once a year)

• Use a 3-1 type oil on all tools that have a pivot or that rotates. Oiling the point of rotation will keep them working smoothly for years to come. (Once a month during times of heavy use)

• Change the oil & oil filters in all gas powered equipment. Use the correct oil spec’ed for the equipment. (Once a year)

• Clean or change the air filters on all power equipment. Replacing is better when the filters are very dirty. (check once a month during heavy use)

• Check, clean and replace if needed, the spark plugs on all gas powered equipment. Make sure to get the correct plug for your equipment. (Once a year)

• Clean the underside of your lawn mower deck. Keeping the grass from building up will help with your grass cutting. (Once a month or more during times of use)

• Check and replace if needed all belts on riding mowers. Checking for wear and making sure the belt is tight on the pulleys. Check the belts that run the blades as well as the ones in the engine. (Once a year)

• Check the proper fuel to oil mixture for each of your 2-stroke engines and pre-mix in a container so it is always mixed properly. (As needed)

• If you live in a colder region and put your mower away for the winter make sure to winterize it in the fall.

Follow these easy steps and you can see that anyone can maintain lawn equipment.

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Aerate Your Lawn: Should You Hire Someone To Aerate Your Lawn?

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:29:18 +0000

When should you Aerate Your Law? If you have clay type soil it is recommended to aerate twice a year and with sandy soil once a year will do it. The time of year is… in the late spring to early summer for the warm seasoned grasses. For cool seasoned grasses the late summer to early fall would be the best time of year. Use these time frames if you plan to aerate twice a year.

Getting the perfect lawn may not be possible but take some time to care for your lawn is well worth it and gets you very close to that perfect lawn.

Before aerating you may want to water the lawn to dampen the soil and making it easier for the aerating spikes to penetrate deeper into the soil. After aerating your lawn it is a good time to do some overseeding and fertilizing. With the lawn aerated it’s much easier for the nutrients to penetrate into the soil.

Stay away from aerating during times of drought and heat waves. Aerating could release the moisture that is trapped in the soil that is needed during these times. Also do not aerate if you have a weed problem. You need to address the weed problem first so you don’t just spread the weed seeds around the yard.

You can aerate your lawn on your own by renting a machine from your local home improvement or rental store. Keep in mind that the machines are very heavy and very dangerous to operate. You should have a friend with you when you when you pick up the machine and bring it home. Before you leave the rental store make sure to get a complete lesson and that you understand how to operate the aerator.

Most times it is nice to do these types of things yourself, you get the satisfaction of a job well done and you save some money. But before you spend the money on renting an aerating machine you should check with some local lawn services to see what they would charge you to do the aerating for you. Having a service do it for you is faster, easier and safer and most times cheaper.
So this is one of those times that hiring someone to aerate your lawn is the way to go.

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My Back Yard Care Tips

Best Lawns: Sometimes It’s A Simple Lawn That Makes The Best Lawns!

Related posts

Super Lawns: Environmental Ways To Make Your Lawn Super!

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Lawn Mowers Care: Discover 7 Steps To Caring For Your Lawn Mower!

Related posts

Greener Lawn: Find Out What It Takes To Achieve A Greener Lawn!

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Lawns To Mow This Weekend? Is it a chore or a love affair?

Related posts

Beautiful Lawn: X Steps To A Beautiful Lawn!

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Lawn Grasses: Are All Lawn Grasses Created Equal?

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Planting Lawns: Are Planting Lawns A Muddy Mess?

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Maintain Lawn Equipment: Can The Average Joe Maintain Lawn Equipment?

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Aerate Your Lawn: Should You Hire Someone To Aerate Your Lawn?

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