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5 Spring Tips for a Better Lawn This Year.

Every lawn has great potential.  And with a little effort a lush lawn can welcome your family, friends and neighbors.

Here are some tips from Lawn Doctor, the guys and gals with 50 years of serving their neighbors with invaluable insight to maintain the home’s greenest asset.

1. Clean-up. Some years are worse than others, but a general clean-up will benefit your lawn in many ways. Too much debris can suffocate the lawn and prevent the emergence of new growth. Raking up even just a few sticks and leaves not only helps get the lawn looking better instantly but it gives you the opportunity to inspect your lawn thoroughly and assess any issues.

2. Rake. Raking to clean up is great, but if you have a thick layer of thatch, you may have to rake a little more thoroughly. Thatch is the layer of decomposing plant material that sits on the surface of the soil. When it accumulates and gets compacted it can prevent the roots of your grass from getting water, fertilizer, oxygen and other nutrients.

3. Manage the moss. Every winter your lawn will stop growing and go into winter dormancy. Meanwhile, moss continues to grow. In the early spring, moss often looks worse than it is. Once the turf starts to grow moss will become less noticeable. Under some conditions, such as heavy shade or habitually moist areas, moss will naturally grow thick and dense. In this case, moss can only be handled by removing it manually with a rake or dethatcher. To help prevent moss and control the spread of it, we recommend a heavy calcitic lime application in the spring and, depending on the soil pH, sometimes again in the fall. Seeding in the fall and proper nutritional care and maintenance can keep the moss from coming back.

4. Fertilize. In the early spring, you’ll notice that your grass is pale green, gray or even yellow, depending on the variety of grass you have. As it comes out of dormancy, it will naturally green up. To bring it back to life faster and see it grow greener you should have a lawn care program. First, start with a high nitrogen fertilizer with other essential nutrients as well as weed control and crabgrass preventative. This service will wake your grass right up and make it look like winter never happened!

5. Prevent crabgrass. It may seem too soon to be thinking about crabgrass but it is imperative to get this pre-emergent onto your lawn ASAP. The secret to lawn care program is TWO applications of pre-emergent. Two applications means double prevention and longer lasting effects. Do not underestimate the importance of premergent!

A little lawn effort goes a long way.

Lawn Doctor is a local, family owned and operated business serving Eastern Massachusetts. Over 50 years of serving neighbors with invaluable insight on maintaining the home’s greenest asset.

Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your lawncare routine or create one from scratch, contact the experts at Lawn Doctor, located at 800 Franklin St, Hanson, MA 0234. For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit http://www.lawndoctor.com/ or call 800-831-1319.

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Lawn Dilemma: To seed or not to seed.

Contrary to conventional thought, spring lawn seeding is NOT recommended.  That’s right, Lawn Doctor experts encourage you to wait on seeding.

There are three reasons why you shouldn’t see in the Spring.

First, seed is very slow to germinate in the spring due to cooler soil temperatures according to Tom Norton, owner of Lawn Doctor.  “Even fast- growing perennial ryegrass will take 3-4 weeks when planted in April.” Secondly, Spring is the biological time for turf to reproduce and therefore expends its energy on the production of seed and top growth and not root development. “Turfgrass knows that spring is time to reproduce. It focuses all of its resources on growing tall, green shoots and seed heads instead of a root system. All the water in the world will not be enough to protect your grass from summer stress if it doesn’t have a developed root system.”

Third reason?

Weeds, weeds, weeds! The most important, time-sensitive thing you can do for you lawn is apply a weed and crabgrass preventative, AKA preemergent. If you seed, you cannot apply pre-emergent, and if your grass can’t make it through the summer, it’ll be overtaken by crabgrass. You’ll end up seeding in the fall again anyway. Even if you watered and fertilized faithfully, odds are, you’ll still end up with patchy, bare areas after the crabgrass recedes in the fall. 

Lawn Doctor is a local, family owned and operated business. Over 50 years of serving their neighbors has provided their team with invaluable insight as how best maintain your home’s greenest asset.

Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your lawncare routine or create one from scratch, the experts at Lawn Doctor can get you on track. For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit http://www.lawndoctor.com/or call 800-831-1319.

Lawn Dilemma: To seed or not to seed.Read More

Bust out. Enjoy Getting Your Lawn Ready for Spring.

Cabin fever is setting in for many of us who have been self-isolating due COVID-19.  But maybe this is an opportune time to get some Vitamin E from the sun and endorphins from the rejuvenating exercise related to preparing your yard for spring?  Many experts note that sunshine and clean air are natures best disinfectant.

Here are some simple and effective tips from Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod.

Tom Norton, President of the local Lawn Doctor outfit, suggests “Some years are worse than others, but a general clean-up will benefit your lawn in many ways.” 

Norton continued, “Too much debris can suffocate the lawn and prevent the emergence of new growth. Raking up even just a few sticks and leaves not only helps get the lawn looking better instantly but it gives you the opportunity to inspect your lawn thoroughly and assess any issues.”

Now what? Lawn Doctor cautions you that raking to clean up is great, but if you have a thick layer of thatch, you may have to rake a little more thoroughly. Thatch is the layer of decomposing plant material that sits on the surface of the soil. When it accumulates and gets compacted it can prevent the roots of your grass from getting water, fertilizer, oxygen and other nutrients. 

Next, manage the moss. Every winter your lawn will stop growing and go into winter dormancy. Meanwhile, moss continues to grow. In the early spring, moss often looks worse than it is. Once the turf starts to grow moss will become less noticeable. Under some conditions, such as heavy shade or habitually moist areas, moss will naturally grow thick and dense. In this case, moss can only be handled by removing it manually with a rake or dethatcher. To help prevent moss and control the spread of it, we recommend a heavy calcitic lime application in the spring and, depending on the soil pH, sometimes again in the fall. Seeding in the fall and proper nutritional care and maintenance can keep the moss from coming back. 

Now for fertilize. In the early spring, you’ll notice that your grass is pale green, gray or even yellow, depending on the variety of grass you have. As it comes out of dormancy, it will naturally green up. To bring it back to life faster and see it grow greener you should have a lawn care program.

Lawn Doctor urges a first treatment of a high-nitrogen fertilizer with other essential nutrients as well as weed control and crabgrass preventative. This service will wake your grass right up and make it look like winter never happened!

Pay attention and prevent crabgrass. It may seem too soon to be thinking about crabgrass but it is imperative to get pre-emergent weed control solution onto your lawn ASAP. The secret is TWO applications of pre-emergent solution. Two applications mean double prevention and longer lasting effects. Do not underestimate the importance of pre-emergent. 

Good start to creating the lush lawn that your family and friend can enjoy.

Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod is a local, family owned and operated business. Over 50 years of serving their neighbors has provided their team with invaluable insight as how best maintain your home’s greenest asset.

Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your lawncare routine or create one from scratch, the experts at Lawn Doctor can get you on track. For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit http://www.lawndoctor.com/or call 800-831-1319.

Bust out. Enjoy Getting Your Lawn Ready for Spring.Read More

Bite back and reduce the buzz. Lawn Doctor announces New Mosquito Control Program.

Watering photo 05 29 15

You are just about to doze off in the hammock and then suddenly that annoying buzz of a mosquito invasion swoops in.  This year the Zika Virus and West Nile Virus bring an added concern.  Now you have a viable option. Lawn Doctor has launched a comprehensive mosquito control program called Yard Armour.  This program addresses both control and prevention of mosquitoes.

Existing mosquito infestations must be tackled head on. Many pest control companies use chemical treatments which are effective on mosquitoes but also expose your family and pets to those chemicals.  Lawn Doctor’s Yard Armour uses a highly effective organic treatment made from natural ingredients which pose no risk to your family and pets.  This patented formula contains natural insect repellents such as cedar oil and peppermint oil which are not only very effective but leave your property with a lovely, fresh scent.

What can you do to reduce these puny pests?

First off, remove any stagnant water such as that found in birdbaths, tires, and trash barrels. Water in dog bowls and bird baths should be changed regularly to avoid ripe breeding climates for mosquitoes.  Cleaning out rain gutters regularly is also important.  Lastly, keep your lawn and shrubs on a regular maintenance schedule.

To a mosquito, overgrown grass and shrubbery can look like a nice place to raise a family.

Lawn Doctor is focused on working in harmony with the science of nature. Every service is designed to boost natural growth. This goes beyond the use of simple, green products. The company’s proprietary technology allows its lawn professionals to precisely measure and apply the optimum blend of nutrients and control products- doing the right thing for your lawn and for the environment.

A healthy landscape is not only beautiful but also provides many environmental benefits such as filtering air and water, creating fresh oxygen, reducing pollutants, and moderating temperatures.  Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod is a local, family owned and operated business serving over 7,000 homeowners in the Greater Boston region.  Main offices are located in Hanover, MA.

For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit www.LawnDoctor.com or call 800-831-1319.

Bite back and reduce the buzz. Lawn Doctor announces New Mosquito Control Program.Read More

Weed ‘em and Weep. Lawn Doctor offers Weeding Tips. 

 

This spring, diligent home owners have been reviving their once frost and snow beaten lawns back to lush green carpet teeming with life.  Summer’s elongated days, increased temperatures, and rainfall, have contributed to the near perfect growing conditions in New England. Unfortunately, invasive plants or weeds, love the weather just as much as your lawn.

Though these undesirable tenants of your lawn need not be feared, they must be planned for and regularly addressed. Horticulturist Mike McDonald of Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod attests, “Managing weeds is an essential part of lawn care – right up there mowing or watering.”

Generally, a healthy lawn will have a better chance at being a weed-free lawn. Adjusting simple lawn care tasks with weed prevention in mind can help to avoid an invasion before it can happen. Grass with thick high blades is best for weed prevention as well as overall health.  McDonald recommends “For strong grass: mow high. Higher blade length means deeper root systems. This will keep your lawn competitive with other plants above and below ground.”  Fertilizer can be added to improve thickness as well.

Keep an eye on potentially problematic patches. Areas that are walked on frequently or are near pavement and walkways often become overly compact. Often, weeds are able to triumph in compacted soil. If these weeds are further ignored, they may spread to the whole of your lawn.  So use the walkway instead of the lawn and keep track of parts of your lawn that are already compact.

Bare areas must be addressed as well. The season is still early enough to add seed to bare spots. This will give them a fighting chance at competing with weeds.  Continue to regularly check such patches. Weeds in these areas will cultivate easier than in the thick of your lawn. If left unattended, they may spread throughout your lawn.

The species of weeds found on lawn can bear insight on the cause for their invasion.  Knotweed has wiry stems, oval green leaves and is often seen in between bricks in walkways and in cracks on the streets and sidewalks. Its’ presence often indicates a lack of water. Larger amounts of Dandelions may indicate infrequency of mowing. Dandelions that are mowed down frequently will be unable to mature there seeds and cause further infestation.  McDonald cautions, “Its’ a delicate balance. Ragweed and Dandelions might mean you are not mowing enough. On the other side of the coin, if you mow too much blade length and root deepness will be reduced, weakening your lawns defense against new weeds.”

Lawn Doctor is focused on working in harmony with the science of nature. Every service is designed to boost natural growth. This goes beyond the use of simple, green products. The company’s proprietary technology allows its lawn professionals to precisely measure and apply the optimum blend of nutrients and weed control – doing the right thing for your lawn and the environment.

A healthy lawn creates oxygen, removes dust and dirt, and filters water passing through its roots leaving pollutants behind and many more benefits. Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod is a local, family owned and operated business serving over 6,000 homeowners in the Greater Boston region.  Main offices are located in Hanover, MA.

For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit www.LawnDoctor.com or call 800-831-1319.

 

 

Weed ‘em and Weep. Lawn Doctor offers Weeding Tips. Read More

You’ve Got to Know When to Mow. Lawn Doctor offers tips.

 

Lawn lovers of the greater Boston area have been blessed with a warm and wet April.  Of course, a lawn worth bragging about requires a tad more maintenance than Mother Nature can provide alone. Providing your lawn with some tender love and care can make the difference between a sand lot and turf that Mookie Betts would feel at home fielding.

Rookie and Veteran homeowner alike can benefit from the insights from professionals for whom lawn care is more than a summer pastime. As we ease into the lawn tending season, let’s fine tune our fundamentals from the ground up; starting with the way we mow.

Rethink the length of your lawn.  Besides requiring extra laps around your lawn, keeping the height of your lawn short will make it more vulnerable to problems. All too often homeowners will attempt to keep their lawn around one inch in height, while in-fact a taller lawn of three inches is optimum.

Not only does a lawn with more height retain moisture more effectively, Lawn Doctor of Boston’s Horticulturist Mike McDonald attests that, “Keeping a longer blade length will shade the soil keeping the soil temperature lower which prevents weeds and crabgrass from germinating.” Longer blade length can be achieved by simply raising the height of the mower or requesting that your landscaper does so.

You should always apply the ‘One-third rule.’  Never cut more than one third of the blade at once. The more you cut off the more likely you are to shock the lawn and weaken the plant’s vitality.  Regular mowing is important so that you are only clipping a small percentage of the blade each time.

The debate over lawn clippings precedes the invention of the ride-on and perhaps even the self-propelled push mover. Many argue that trimmings create natural mulch, improving soil quality and reducing the need for more frequent fertilization.  Others retort that clipping smother lawns and cause brown patches.  Both parties are correct to some extent. While the benefits of trimmings are not exaggerated, too much of them will smother the lawn.  Luckily when following the ‘One-third rule’ trimmings will be sparse enough to easily become broken down into nutrients and will not smother. If you do choose to keep a short lawn, the bulk of your clippings should be bagged.

Another way to keep your blades of grass well maintained is by keeping for mower blades sharp and well maintained. Your mower will thank you for sharpening its blades as it reduces stress on its machinery and reduces the build up and clogging of lawn debris that can spread fungus.  Your lawn will thank you for cleanly cutting its blades allowing it to heal quickly. Dull mower blades wound blades of grass. These injured blades have a greater need for watering and a greater potential to cultivate disease.

While ideally you should mow every week when the lawn is growing vigorously, weather patterns still must be observed. Mowing in the rain or when your lawn is wet can become highly problematic. Wet grass is susceptible to tearing, which bears the same problems as mowing with dull blades. And mowing in the rain will compact your soil reducing its ability to transport water and nutrients.

Conversely, mowing should be avoided in long term dry conditions. If there is no rain in the ten day forecast and you lack a reliable irrigation system, hold off on the mowing until the day before the next reported rain.  McDonalds adds, “letting your lawn grow longer in a dry spell will allow it to set deeper roots and create shade for itself, both of which will help retain moisture.” So let your lawn grow!

Lawn Doctor is focused on working in harmony with the science of nature. Every service is designed to boost natural growth. This goes beyond the use of simple, green products. The company’s proprietary technology allows its lawn professionals to precisely measure and apply the optimum blend of nutrients and weed control – doing the right thing for your lawn and the environment.

A healthy lawn creates oxygen, removes dust and dirt, and filters water passing through its roots leaving pollutants behind and many more benefits. Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod is a local, family owned and operated business serving over 6,000 homeowners in the Greater Boston region.  Main offices are located in Hanover, MA.

For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit www.LawnDoctor.com or call 800-831-1319.Mow smile Photo 04 27 15

You’ve Got to Know When to Mow. Lawn Doctor offers tips.Read More