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Check here for information and tips on caring for lawns throughout the Lunenburg, MA area.
Check here for information and tips on caring for lawns throughout the Lunenburg, MA area.
If you've recently bought a property or your lawn has fallen into disrepair, then you may be considering ways to fix it. Two options for creating a new lawn in Massachusetts include sod and hydroseeding, both of which are popular options in Lunenburg, Concord, Leominster, and nearby cities.
Most people know that sod installation involves placing rolls of grass directly onto bare soil, rolling it to make it level, and then watering it for a bit. Hydroseeding, however, is not as common of a term—but it's an incredibly efficient way to create a new lawn. It involves spraying a slurry mixture of seed, mulch, fertilizer, and other substances onto bare soil. Here, we'll compare hydroseeding and sod's cost, time, quality, and use cases so you can decide which one is best for your property.
When looking at price alone, hydroseeding is the clear winner. Sod must be bought by the pallet which means you may end up having to buy more sod than you actually need. Sod also requires more labor to install, which increases its price as well. In most cases, sod costs up to four times more per square foot than hydroseeding services do. When you have a large property, that price difference adds up quickly.
Generally, you will start to see new grass growth within 7-10 days of hydroseeding services, while the entire lawn may take...
Your lawn needs certain growing conditions in order to remain healthy and continue producing strong growth. Regular lawn care and maintenance services can only do so much. What really matters is what's going on underneath the soil.
Soil plays one of the biggest roles in keeping grass and other plant life alive. Without the right pH level and balance of key nutrients, like nitrogen and potassium, your lawn is at risk for more weeds, diseases and pests, and weaker grass growth overall.
The information provided by soil tests alerts you to what kind of lawn services need to be done in order to stabilize your soil. Whether this is a lime treatment or a fertilizer application, soil testing can help homeowners in Lunenburg, Leominster, Concord, and nearby areas prepare their lawn and landscape for the upcoming spring season.
Even if you have a full-service lawn care and maintenance company regularly working on your property, their effort will have little to no impact if your soil isn't healthy.
Soil pH is one of the main factors that determine how well your grass and plants will grow and how long they'll survive. Rain, microbial activity, and fertilizers with too much nitrogen can all affect the soil pH levels. Certain grass species prefer different pH levels, but most enjoy soil that is slightly acidic. This scale is normally...
Crabgrass is a robust weed that can damage the health and appearance of your lawn and nearby softscape. Here at Gatsby Grounds Company, we offer pre- and post-emergent weed control services that target crabgrass. Our lawn care specialists are available to serve properties in and around Concord, Leominster, and Lunenburg, MA.
If you're unsure of why you need crabgrass control for your lawn, check out three reasons to enlist this service as soon as possible.
Crabgrass reproduces rapidly. It reproduces via seeds, and a single plant is able to produce up to 700 tillers and 150,000 seeds. Because of its rapid growth capabilities, it needs to be properly handled. Our team prevents crabgrass from germinating in the first place with effective pre-emergent treatments. If crabgrass has already taken root in your lawn, we have post-emergent treatments to apply on your lawn.
While crabgrass grows rapidly in a variety of environments, it performs best under specific conditions. When the soil temperatures reach 55° F for four or more days in a row, its seeds will germinate faster and in greater abundance.
Our team understands crabgrass's growth tendencies and we work to ensure it stays out of your yard.
Crabgrass is tricky because of its growth patterns, but it can...
Getting a lush, green lawn takes a lot of routine maintenance and work, including regular fertilization and weed control treatments. Lawn care professionals often are asked if these treatments are safe for kids and pets, and the answer depends on a few things.
Learn here if fertilizer and weed control treatments are safe for your pets and children in areas such as Leominster, Lunenburg, Concord, and neighboring areas of Massachusetts.
It's no secret that kids love playing outside and getting into messes, but should they be on your lawn if it receives routine fertilization treatments? After the fertilizer has been completely absorbed into the soil, yes. It's generally recommended to wait about 24-72 hours after a fertilizer application before letting your kids go back onto the grass and to also ensure your lawn is watered well before the kids go back to playing in the grass. This not only keeps them safe from chemicals, but it also allows your lawn to absorb the nutrients without being disturbed. The time window depends on the product being applied, so it is best to check with your lawn care professional for information.
Organic fertilization treatments are generally safer for kids, as they do not contain herbicides or insecticides, but it's still recommended that you give your grass time to absorb those treatments as well.
Because Massachusetts experiences an average high temperature of 36°F during the first month of the year, lawn care is likely the last thing on your mind. While this is understandable, we at Gatsby Grounds Company recommend you start planning your lawn care schedule for the spring.
Doing so will help you maintain its beauty and health year-round. Learn more about why you should create your lawn care schedule in the winter and how our lawn care providers can help in areas such as Lunenburg, Concord, Leominster, and nearby communities.
If you wait until spring to start your lawn care plan, you may require pest and weed treatment rather than pest and weed prevention. If you don't have the proper pest and weed control practices in place, your Leominster lawn and plants may be susceptible to issues like:
With the right nutrients and fertilizer applications, you can discourage pests and weeds from taking refuge in your yard in the first place. Our lawn care company can visit your site to determine a proper fertilization schedule for your lawn and landscape.
In the winter, your lawn may die off due to the cold weather if it wasn't properly cared for by a professional, reliable lawn care company. Slice seeding is a quick...
In Massachusetts lawns, there's one thing you can count on to show up unwanted—weeds. Unless you have a routine lawn care program set up, you will see these weeds popping up throughout the year, invading your grass and taking away much-needed nutrients.
Learn about common Massachusetts weeds, why you don't want them in your yards, and how a lawn care program tailored for lawns can help you in Lunenburg, Leominster, Concord, and nearby cities.
Besides the obvious unsightly look, there are several reasons why you don't want weeds growing in your lawn. Weeds grow and spread rapidly, meaning it's very easy for them to overtake your grass and sap away all the nutrients it needs to thrive. They decrease your curb appeal and can also destroy landscaping if left unchecked.
At Gatsby Grounds Company, we've been caring for Massachusetts lawns for more than 20 years. In that time, we've learned what weeds commonly grow in our area and how to treat them. Some of the common weeds we see when we visit residential and commercial properties include:
Winter can be very harsh on your landscape plants. The cold weather, snow, rain, and frigid wind all take a toll on your shrubs, trees, and other small plants. To help prevent damage to your landscape, it’s important to take the necessary steps to provide them extra protection during the cold months.
Fertilization, weed removal, mulch installation, and trimming all help protect your plants during the winter. If you live in Lunenburg, Leominster, Concord, and the surrounding areas, here is how to ensure your plants stay healthy throughout winter.
Many people believe that they should slow down on fertilization in the fall, or even stop it entirely; however, this isn’t the wisest decision. Providing your plants with a healthy application of fall fertilizer actually helps them gather nutrients they need to sustain themselves during the winter. Plants generally stop growing during the fall, but their roots continue to grow stronger and root deeper during this time and during the winter. Fertilizing your plants in fall provides them with the nutrients they need to fuel their root growth during the wintertime and leads to stronger, healthier plants come spring.
Weeds can be a nightmare for your landscape. They are voracious and grow rapidly, and when allowed to remain in your landscape beds, they can kill the plants that you’ve worked so hard to ...
Hydroseeding is a process that involves spraying your lawn with a mixture of water, seeds, fertilizer, cellulose fiber, mulch, and other treatment agents. Many homeowners are opting for hydroseeding over sod installation or hand seeding due to hydroseeding’s revitalizing properties.
Applying hydroseeding to your lawn improves its health, creates a fuller lawn, controls soil erosion, and more. Here is how hydroseeding revitalizes your lawn in Lunenburg, Leominster, Concord, and the surrounding areas.
As the mixture goes through its natural decomposition cycle, it releases a wide range of beneficial nutrients that soak deep down into your soil and help your seeds thrive. Hydroseed is a thick mixture, creating the perfect natural weed repellent. Because hydroseeding promotes a thicker, more even lawn, there is virtually no room for weeds to sprout and grow. Fewer weeds lead to a healthier lawn that is more robust and can fight off pests, lawn diseases, and future weed growth.
Hydroseeding encourages a much deeper and stronger root establishment, which leads to a lush, dark, almost blue-green look that every homeowner craves. And because the seed mixture is sprayed on top of your soil, there is no transplanting of seeds into foreign soils and no shock involved from the process.
Hydroseeding promotes a thicker, fuller, and more uniform ...
Routine lawn maintenance is vital to a healthy, beautiful lawn. One of the most important lawn care services you can give your lawn is core aeration. Aerating your lawn provides grass roots with greater access to nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy and provides several benefits.
Here are some ways in which your lawn in Lunenburg, Leominster, Concord, and the surrounding areas benefits from core aeration.
Core aeration is a type of lawn care service in which a special machine with hollow tines is run across your lawn and mechanically removes plugs or “cores” of soil and thatch from the lawn. Your grass needs air, water, sunlight, and nutrients to grow deep, strong roots. Over time, the soil in your lawn becomes compacted due to foot traffic and weather, restricting the flow of nutrients to your lawn’s roots. When your lawn can’t get the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy, it weakens and becomes more susceptible to pests and diseases and eventually dies.
Core aeration helps loosen compacted soil and provides access for nutrients, water, and light to penetrate deep down into your lawn. This allows grass roots to breathe and grow deeper into the soil and create a strong, well-established lawn. Aeration is most effective when performed in the fall to give your grass an extra boost of health when springtime comes.
Core aeration is most effective when performed in the fall....
Keeping your yard at optimal health is a delicate balance in Lunenburg, Leominster, Concord, and surrounding areas. You have to make sure it’s being mowed properly, fertilized correctly, and has the right weed control applications.
Without those balances, your lawn may not be strong enough to fend off insect infestations or disease. A common problem we see here in our area is the invasion of grubs. Grubs can invade your lawn and quickly kill it off. Here is a guide to grubs and what they can do to destroy your yard.
Simply put, a grub is a larva. These larvae grow up to be adult beetles who lay eggs which hatch into larvae, beginning an endless cycle unless it’s stopped. These types of beetles are usually Japanese beetles or June bugs. Their larvae, or grubs, typically hatch sometime in the summer about two weeks after the eggs are laid.
As soon as grubs hatch, they then begin to feed on the roots of your grass. This causes the blades to die as they no longer have a way to suck up much-needed nutrients from the soil around them.
While the grubs continue to grow, they nest deeper and deeper into the soil and continue to attack the root system of your grass. They stay deep in the soil all through the winter so they can emerge in the spring and eat more roots before entering their pupal stage to transform into adults.
Grubs will end up killing your...
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