816-662-2222


Tag Archives: care

Permalink to single post

Lawn Care Tip: Create a Fall Check List For Your Home Maintenance

fallleavesMany people find the bi-annual daylight savings to be a time to check in on their house to make sure everything is working properly and running smoothly. They may make it a time to inspect their roofing or plumbing, but include smaller tasks such as checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Depending on the part of the country you live in, you may be in for a long, cold winter. Or, you could just be slightly inconvenienced by some chilly weather. Wherever you live, there are definitely some tasks you can consider when daylight savings time is once again upon us. Here are some as recommended by your lawn care professionals.

The most obvious task is to check your clocks. Replace batteries in wall clocks to make sure the time doesn’t fall behind and consequently, you as well. While you’re on battery patrol, check the batteries in flashlights as well. You should have a few well-placed flashlights throughout your home in case of a loss of power, as well as in your car in case of a break down at night.

If you have an irrigation system, you may want to have that checked by lawn care professionals or do it yourself if you can. You can also check your thermostat if it’s on a timed program and make sure you’re setting it for the correct temperature, given any temperature changes you will experience due to seasonal changes.  Many people also use this time of year to check or replace their furnace filter. This is especially important because it keeps your system running as it should.

And of course, there’s always fall leaf removal! Call your lawn care professionals to see what needs to be done before winter sets in!

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , , , , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn Care Tip: Lawn Clippings

grass_clippingLawn clippings are not exactly considered valuable to a lawn or landscape, but the reality of the matter is that they can be extremely helpful in the growing process of your turf. Many people bag or rake lawn clippings instead of leaving them on the surface of the lawn for fear it will develop into a layer of thatch. However, lawn care specialists say it will not. Instead it will break down and act as natural fertilizer for your turf. In addition, it was add nitrogen to the soil beneath your turf organically. If you are worried about the “messy” or unkempt appearance your lawn may have if you do not get rid of the grass clippings after mowing, consider purchasing a mulch mower.

If leaving them on your lawn is just too much for you to handle, try hand raking them instead of bagging them. However, do not put them out for the garbage men to pick up. Mulch the clippings and use it to cover the ground of a landscape bed. If you have a compost pile, they will make an excellent addition and become a nutrient-rich mixture that will serve as perfect fertilizer. More importantly, you are saving them from the garbage dump where they will only take up room that, let’s face it, we don’t exactly have for our ever-expanding collection of garbage.

If you are not sure what you should do about your grass clippings, talk to your local lawn care provider and get expert advice!

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn Care Tip: Bee Awareness

As a population, we are not very fond of bees. They sting and buzz by our ears and chase us when we have something sweet or fragrant in our possession. Many people are even severely allergic to bees, which if the allergy is severe enough, can be potentially fatal. So with that stated, it is probably a pretty good idea to keep an eye out for these flying insects. If populations are large enough or if their hives are close to your home, you definitely want to seek professional intervention. However, in the meantime, here is some information from your lawn care experts to help you stay on top of your potential bee problem.

bumblebeeIf you happen to see bees in your yard, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have a bee problem. Bees are known to travel vast distances and there is a good chance the bee doesn’t belong to a nearby hive. It’s when you notice bees near or even inside your home that you need to really worry. Oftentimes, bees will create a hive under aluminum siding and will find easy access to the interior of your home through holes or eaves.

You may be tempted to remove the nest yourself or maybe even scare them away by spraying them with a hose; as lawn care experts who regularly come into contact with bees, we strongly urge you to rethink those actions. Bees that feel threatened may attack you and string you all over your body. What you should do is call your bee removal expert who can not only remove the threat, but identify weak spots in and around your home. From there you can caulk any cracks, move garbage cans farther away from your home and make sure all your doors and windows are sufficiently sealed.

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , ,
Permalink to single post

Basic Lawn Care Tips For A Successful Turf

watering-a-lawn-sprinklerIf you’re frustrated with the way your lawn looks, maybe it’s time to make some changes. It is very possible that you’re not aware that some of the things you’re doing (or perhaps not doing) is having a very big effect on your lawn. Here are some lawn care tips that may help you take better care of your turf and ensure a more successful and healthy landscape.
Watering: If you drive through any normal American neighborhood in the evening, chances are you’ll see quite a few residents watering their lawn. This is a common mistake. Since the moisture won’t evaporate throughout the night, it will create the perfect opportunity for mold or other fungi to grow. Instead, water your lawn in the morning so the moisture has a chance to evaporate.

 

dandelion

Weed Control: If weeds are popping up in your lawn, you definitely want to get a handle on this issue sooner rather than later. Weeds are notorious for their ability to spread quickly. Corn gluten, an organic material, has several benefits that include killing weed seedlings and introducing nitrogen into the soil naturally.

 

 

Lawn Clippings: Many people are tempted to bag their clippings or have them blown away, but as long as the amount of clippings isn’t thick (as in you haven’t mowed for a couple months), you can leave them on your lawn where they will decompose and become natural fertilizer. If you’re worried about clippings making your lawn look messy, consider investing in a mulching mower.

grass_clipping

 

 

Hopefully these simple lawn care tips can help put you on the path to a healthier, more beautiful lawn!

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , , ,
Permalink to single post

Sweeten Your Soil To Get The Most Out Of Your Lawn Care

If you talk to any lawn care professional, he or she will tell you that the content of the soil dictates how well everything grows, if it grows at all. Most people are aware that if they want to enhance the quality and rate of growth of their lawn, they need to have their soil tested to discern it’s pH, or acidity, level.

If your soil’s pH is too high, you will need to apply sulfate and sulfur to bring the level to a more neutral status. Sulfate will deliver more immediate results because the aluminum within it will dissolve rapidly and produces the beneficial acidity. Sulfur treatments will take a bit longer to get the soil to a more desirable level. In fact, it may take months to reach any noticeable difference.

No matter which route you decide to take regarding sulfate or sulfur, both should be sufficiently mixed into and throughout the soil after it has been applied to boost the effectiveness of the treatment. If you are applying the sulfate or sulfur yourself, take care not to get it on any surrounding plants and consult with your lawn care professionals first. If you do happen to get any of this material on surrounding plants, wash the leaves of the plants off as soon as you can to prevent leaf burn. You should also be aware of how much you’re applying and take measures to not over-apply either.

The best solution is to contact your lawn care company and let them handle the process.

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn care: All you ever wanted to know about slugs and snails

Although snails and slugs look harmless enough (just kind of gross and slimy, maybe), they are actually quite destructive to domestic and commercial gardens. They can cause so much damage that it is best to have an effective lawn care regimen in place to stop the damage before it begins. First you should know a little about these squishy insects.

snails

Snails and slugs are mollusks. The slimy trail they leave behind as they squirm all over your pavement and plants is what allow them to stay alive, since they need to be moist. This slime also helps them move around. These bugs are hermaphrodites, so they can populate your garden all by themselves without any help. Lawn care specialists say you may find them attached to garden fences or other structures near plants when the temperature becomes much cooler.

There is a small difference between the two insects. Snails have shells that give them protection. Slugs are basically the same insect, but without a shell. Both can stretch their bodies quite far and both have a set of antenna and eyes. Although they enjoy any type of foliage, they are partial to fruit plants such as tomatoes, strawberries, lemon trees, etc.

During the winter, snails and slugs hibernate, sometimes in your home in a warm, dark, damp location. They don’t like the sun much since the heat and light can dry out their mucus. When they reproduce, they can lay up to 500 eggs in one season, however that is not to say all will survive. Their life expectancy is about four years, but most tend to die off before then.

If you have a persistent snail or slug problem, be sure to save your garden by calling your local lawn care authorities.

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , , , , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn care Tip: Beware of mites!

Anytime we spend any appreciable amount of time outdoors, we should be aware of the possibility of bringing home a few new friends with us, including mites. However, the great outdoors isn’t the only place we encounter mites, say lawn care experts. These microscopic bugs can be found literally everywhere.

These insects have small rounded bodies and eight legs. You aren’t likely to be able to see them, since they are almost impossible to detect with the naked eye and are much smaller than ticks. Since we have difficulty seeing them, it is unlikely that you’ll know if they’ve hitched a ride on your clothing or are lurking in your closet or even on your pets.

There are different variations of mites, including dust mites, spider mites, mange mites, sarcoptic mites, gall mites and demodex mites. Mite specialists say they receive their name based on where they live and thrive. For example, dust mites tend to live in the home where there is dust.

You may notice you have mites by the mild to severe skin irritations that follow when they interact with us or our pets. Dogs or cats may constantly dig at themselves trying to relieve the itching mites cause. Similarly, we may notice red, dry patches of skin on our bodies that constantly itch.

The best remedy, according to the lawn care specialists, is to combat mites is by cleaning and keeping up with our cleaning regimen. Wash bed sheets and pillows often and with hot water. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture, being sure to get into cracks and crevices. Consider getting perimeter pest control to make sure these insects are unable to gain access to your home.

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn Care Tip: Protecting your lawn from dogs

With all the running, jumping and going to the bathroom, dogs can do quite a number on your lawn. There are some products you can purchase that promise to eliminate urine spots from your lawn, but this might be more trouble than it’s worth to have to try and seek out every spot and treat it thoroughly. There is also the issue with trampled or worn grass, and unless you’re ready to dig up your existing turf and plant sturdier grass, you will need another option for protecting your turf from your pet’s paws.

Tree care specialists recommend planting clover in the areas where your dog likes to frequent for his bathroom needs. Dogs often retreat to a certain spot time after time, so planting clover in this area will allow him the comfort of thinking he’s getting grass, but his urine will not have the same effects on the clover as it does on grass. The nitrogen and salt in urine is what causes the grass to become discolored, but clover is resistant to these chemicals and will remain green. Clover is also beneficial because it doesn’t require the same amount of upkeep and watering as regular grass.

Another tree care tip for the wearing of your turf is installing a pooch path. As stated before, dogs are creatures of habit and tend to pick out the area around your fence as their potty spots. Tree care professionals advise against growing grass in this area and instead suggest installing a crushed gravel path or a stone walkway. This will also work for your dog’s other paths through the yard. Instead of having trampled grass, you will have a creative and luxurious-looking pathway that will add character to your lawn and landscape.

If you don’t feel like dealing with the hassle of keeping up with your dog’s potty spots, contact us and ask about how to combat the effects your pet may have on your lawn.

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , , , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn Care Tip: Protect your tree during winter with black plastic

Fruit trees are very sensitive to cold weather and recently, some states such as Georgia and Florida experienced an unexpected frost that damaged much of the fruit. However,  lawn care professionals say there are ways to prevent extensive damage when the weather turns colder than what the trees can handle or are used to.

Sun scald is very damaging to all trees, but especially fruit trees. The direct sunlight causes the cells within the tree to unfreeze, but the drastic change in temperature once the sun goes down can crack or split the bark, if not cause it to fall of completely.

Lawn care experts say a great way to prevent sun scald from negatively affecting your fruit trees is by wrapping your trees in black plastic during the late fall months. Choose a sturdy black plastic (you may be able to find some at your local gardening outlet) and begin at the base of the tree, wrapping the plastic in an upward motion. You will probably have to overlap the layers in order to sufficiently cover the entire base of the tree. Fasten the plastic by using staples (staple the plastic NOT the tree) or using a powerful adhesive, taking care to avoid getting any on the tree itself. The tape could damage the bark.

Be sure to check on the wrap throughout the winter and early spring to make sure there are no gaps or places where the plastic wrap is coming undone. If you properly protect your tree during the winter months, you should have a healthy, vibrant tree once spring finally rolls around!

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , , , , ,
Permalink to single post

Lawn Care Tips for Exotic Weeds

The one thing any homeowner does not want is to find their lawn swimming in a sea of weeds. Not all of us are lawn care experts, so we probably aren’t aware of half the weeds out there other than your standard crabgrass and fescue. However, there are several types of weeds to be on the lookout for and here is the description of some of the most exotic types.

Mouse-ear chickweed sounds nothing like a weed, other than the “weed” part at the end of its name. However, it is indeed a weed and can be discovered in the late spring and early summer when small, white flowers begin to appear. The leaves are narrow, long and fleshy and also have a fuzzy appearance. The best time to eliminate them is in the spring because by mid-summer they have begun to sprout seed heads.

Oxalis is another spring/early summer weed. It stays close to the ground, which makes it easy for it to remain on your lawn even after mowing. If your turf is damp, does not have proper irrigation and is heavily shaded, it is the ideal growing conditions for oxalis. This weed is distinguishable by its bright yellow flowers with purple or reddish leaves and stems.

Purslane has rubbery leaves that are thick and sprawling, along with five-petaled yellow flowers that are in full bloom when the sun is shining its brightest. Lawn care experts say the seeds of this weed are most dangerous because even though you may remove the weed and its roots, the seeds lay dormant in the soil for years. This lawn sabotager loves hot, dry weather and is often found in thin areas of a lawn or in turfs that have been seeded in the summer.

Permalink to single post by Kansas City Lawn , , , ,
« Older Entries
Call Now Button