Monday, September 15, 2014

Tips for Watering and Lawn Care

There are many options for lawn irrigation in New Jersey, and most people want their yards to look green and happy. However, for many homeowners, a green lawn remains an elusive dream as they face trouble spots that just won't seem to green up. Here are four tips to get the best results out of irrigation and make your lawn work easy:


1.  Water in the morning, not the evening – Many people believe that it's best to water the lawn in the evening around sunset. The reasoning is simple: at night the temperatures are lower and the water won't evaporate off the ground before the grass roots can absorb it. However, in practice this can cause problems. The lawn will remain damp all night making it the perfect habitat for mold and fungal disease can kill an entire lawn or cause isolated brown spots. Instead, water your lawn in the morning (a timed sprinkler system makes this easy). It will still be cool enough for water to sink into the soil, but any excess dries quickly, protecting your grass.

2.  Pay attention to the lay of the land – Sometimes, trouble areas in a lawn fit into one of two categories: the uphill end of a sloped lawn or the downhill end. Water runs downhill, even the small amount of water put out by lawn sprinklers. That can lead to soggy, waterlogged terrain in low spots or dry, parched terrain in high spots. If you notice a lack of green grass in one part of the yard, check to see if it's sloped and adjust watering accordingly.

3.  Shady areas may need more water – Most of us think of shady areas as the dampest, and that's often true. But with less sunlight, shaded grass also faces the toughest conditions. Consider increasing watering in shady areas to help grass grow greener and longer there.

4.  Not all problems can be fixed by water alone – Some brown grass may be caused by fungus, disease, or pests. If irrigation and fertilizer don't help, you may need to call in a professional to diagnose the problem. Generally, the sooner you act the easier the problem is to fix.


A green, healthy lawn will always take hard work and attentive care, but achieving it doesn't have to be a chore that consumes your whole weekend. With a good irrigation system and the right amount of water, most lawns will stay green with a minimum of extra care.


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Monday, September 8, 2014

How to Get a Green Lawn in NJ

In NJ, a sprinkler system is a good start to keeping your lawn green and beautiful—but there are a few tricks that can help keep your lawn green even when your neighbors' lawns aren't. Here are our top tips for a green lawn in the Garden State:


1.  Water every morning – Regular watering is a must for a green lawn. Many people water only sporadically, or rush through it because they water by hand. A sprinkler system in NJ will allow you to deliver plenty of water at a set time every day, with no work needed. Set your sprinkler to go off in the morning and rest easy.

2.  Choose the right grass – New Jersey is a temperate region, which means we need a good blend of warm weather and cool weather grasses. Many lawns are just a single type of grass, meaning that the lawn only thrives for part of the growing season. With a good lawn blend, you can extend how many months your lawn looks lush and beautiful. You can take a grass blend seed and "overseed" it on top of your existing lawn, preferably in the fall.

3.  Maintain a healthy mowing height – Most homeowners cut their grass too short. Short grass minimizes how much of the blade is left, which makes for sun-starved grass. This in turn weakens the grass and leaves it more vulnerable to disease and pests. For green lawns, cut your grass about 2.5-3.5 inches high. Err on the high end for shady areas.

4.  Mulch your clippings – Fresh grass clippings are not yard waste – they're free plant food! Grass clippings (unsurprisingly) contain everything grass needs to stay healthy, and make an excellent natural nutrient source for your lawn. Set your mower to its mulch setting and let the clippings lie on the lawn when you mow.

5.  Keep to a regular schedule – Like all plants, grass adapts to the conditions around it. If it's cut on a regular schedule then it will start to grow regularly and become more resistant to insects, weeds and diseases. If you mow irregularly, it begins to grow in a spotty manner that leaves openings for weeds and pests to move in. Set a mowing schedule and keep to it.


These are just the basics of lawn care, but they can help you keep your yard looking great from early spring through the dog days of summer and all the way into the fall. 


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