Get set for spring with all the essentials. You can never consider yourself prepared without fully functional yard and garden equipment in your tool shed

There has been so much talk about spring and getting your grass to grow. Then there’s soil aeration, application of herbicides, and maintenance with fertilizers. Whoa! That is just a lot for the start of one season. Although these inevitably call for so much time and attention, there is something else equally essential. Keep in mind that paying a lot of attention to your grass and plants and not so much on the tools you use to grow and maintain them will be to their own detriment.

Great garden tools are long term investments.

How do you take care of yard and garden equipment so they can return the favor in the long term?

Whether your tools of choice are hand tools, garden tools, or outdoor power equipment, it is always a good idea to keep them in supreme condition. Take a look at what you have. Determining what kind of tools, you have given you a better perspective of what maintenance methods to apply. Keep in mind that taking care of your yard and garden equipment is fundamental to growing your lawn.

Garden tools and hand tools are low maintenance tools. More often than not, all you need to do is wipe off the dirt with a rag or wash them with soap and water.

You must not forget to let them dry well after washing unless you want to breed rust. To prevent rust growth, a little spritz of WD40 should do the trick. Spread and wipe it with a rag to leave a protective film on the surface of your equipment. In cases where oiling may be necessary, linseed oil is the best choice.

Power tools for yard maintenance are a bit trickier to clean. Basic safety rules dictate to unplug the equipment before starting your maintenance. Cleaning and lubricating are two major maintenance methods for yard and garden equipment. Dust off the surfaces and lubricate the joints and movable parts.

When it comes to cleaning your garden equipment, the instruction manual that came with it is also your best friend. Motor oil may be a good option for lubrication. However, your equipment manufacturer may have a better idea.

Do not forget that outdoor equipment maintenance does not only mean cleaning just the equipment. Give your tool boxes, tool belts, and tool bags some care by emptying them every once in a while, for that routine clean up.

Tuned up outdoor equipment means you are all set for the seasons of lawn maintenance. Be able to grow grass in a lawn full of weeds. With the right yard and garden tools, your lawn will literally “spring into action”.

For more expert tips, contact All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 or visit our website today.

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Beautiful lawn grass grows on good soil. Find out the easy ways you can make sure your soil is ready for that spring green transformation

So you think you’re ready for spring. You’ve got your mower tuned up. You’ve raked away the thatch and the residue from winter. You are ready to wait for the green grass to grow. Not so fast! One mistake homeowners often make is to treat their spring lawn like a miracle waiting to happen. Well, it is not. Clearing away the withered leaves winter left is the obvious first step. The other one you should not be forgetting is your lawn soil test. Your lawn care experts at All American Beauty Turf has a thing or two to share about how to test your soil ph.

What is soil ph?

Soil ph is the measure of acid or alkaline in soil. Generally, ph levels range from 0 to 14, with 7 as the neutral level. Ph ranges below 7 indicate acidic soil and those above 7 are alkaline. The ideal range for most plants to thrive is 5.5-7.0. The first step of knowing your soil is testing the soil ph.

This determines the success you’ll make in growing your grass. Knowing your soil ph also helps you determine what type of plants will thrive in your garden. Soil can be naturally acidic or alkaline. There may also be external factors that can change the ph level of your soil. Be aware of the ph value of your lawn soil before you grow your spring grass. This is when you should get a soil test kit. Your soil test kit may only have three readings of your soil’s ph level: acidic, alkaline, or neutral.

Why does soil ph matter?

The right ph level ensures healthy grass growth. Different plants thrive on different soil ph levels. Do not be too quick to blame pests or any other diseases for poorly growing grass. Chances are, the problem may be your soil ph. It is important to keep ph level within the normal range for most grass and plants to grow. When the ph level of your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, some nutrients in the soil do not efficiently get dissolved and absorbed. Soil ph is determined and affected by several factors like the amount of rain, the temperature, and the previous growth in the soil. Generally, more rainfall means more acidic soil. Dry climates, on the other hand, give you alkaline soil.

Testing your soil

Getting your soil spring-ready means understanding what you have so you would know the right kind of amendments to apply. Although you can test your soil anytime throughout the year, the best time to test your soil is right about now. Spring. A common way to do this is through your county extension service or laboratory. Lawn tests are no better than the sample soil. Know how to accurately get a sample of your soil and send it to your local extension service.

They perform the test and circle back to you with the results. If you are doing your soil testing for the first time, this may be your best option. Extension services give you specific instructions on how to collect your soil. They also provide recommendations and action items depending on the results of your lawn soil test. Primarily, this is an essential start to have a precise evaluation of your soil before opting for DIY.

Another option for soil testing is to get a DIY soil test kit. This is preferable if you wish to perform several types of tests. This is also ideal for follow-up tests or routine tests as you maintain your lawn after the initial test from the lab. Soil test kits are available at garden supply stores, hardware stores, or Amazon.

The best lawn treatment starts with a sound diagnosis of what’s wrong with it. Start your lawn maintenance right and strong with lawn soil testing.

For more expert tips, contact All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 or visit our website today

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Tis the season again. Spring is here. Get expert-tested tips and tricks for that green, grassy, lawn with a winning lawn care schedule

A barefoot-worthy yard does not just happen. As the winter season moves out to make way for spring, so should your calendar make room for your lawn care schedule before spring hits. With the change of the season comes the change of scenes from snow-capped rooftops and Christmas lights to that warm, moist, grassy growth around your yard.

What else could be better for your home than a nice, grassy lawn to welcome spring time with? There are ways to ascertain spring happens to your yard and believe it or not, they’re not that difficult!

Are you all set?

In all things, you get better results and smooth turnouts with proper preparation. This time of the year – early spring – is the best time to get ready for the lawn growing and mowing that is to come. Make the exit of snow the trigger for you to sharpen your mower blades.

Come the spring-to-summer grass-cutting season, this becomes imperative once a month if you want to do away with dull blades that tear the grass. Plus, a backup blade as early as now isn’t such a bad idea.

Ensure your mower is tuned up. Changing your spark plug and air filter yearly helps you keep tabs on when you last replaced it. Check out the cost at Walmart or any local hardware store.

Lastly, you know you’re all set for your spring lawn care schedule when you’ve restocked on fresh gas for your mower. The moisture that has accumulated in your gas over the winter can kill your engine.

Do a check up on your other lawn care equipment to be sure they’re on top shape before all the spring action begins.

Spring Cleaning Time

Take out those twigs and leaves that have accumulated throughout the winter. Clear the way for fertilizers and herbicides to prep your lawn for the grass to grow. This is a priority on your lawn care schedule, so make sure you do not miss out on this spring cleaning task. Check out the ten tips for spring lawn care, too, to help you get set for spring.

Let it Grow

Depending on the varied weather you get during spring, your grass is meant to start growing around this time, so be ready to trim. This is when fertilizing, lawn aeration, and herbicides become essential. Just a tip, do not mow when the grass is wet. Wet clippings can clog up your tuned up mower.

Remember that fertilizing begins in spring. It is crucial to begin applying fertilizer just as your grass is actively growing.

Aerate when your soil is damp but not soaking wet so the machine can work perfectly for its purpose.

Apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent the growth of crabgrass and other weeds in your lawn.

Look out for those pests

Before they infiltrate your lawn, be on the lookout for lawn diseases and lawn insect damage. Prepare your prevention methods for probable lawn problems and pests. You absolutely need to diagnose the problem before you apply treatment. So, look for brown patches and be keen on identifying the presence or growth of pests such as chewed grass blades or loose grass. Administer proper treatment as needed. Prevention of lawn problems is one main reason why you are creating a lawn care schedule, so be ready with a strong lawn care defense.

Get expert-tested tips and tricks for spring ready lawn, contact All American Turf Beauty or call All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 and schedule an appointment today.

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Top 10 Great Ways to Get your Lawn Spring Ready

 

Spring is here and so comes the mowing season! Whether it’s to highlight the appeal of your yard or to transform it to a family bonding paradise, there is no question that it’s the season when lawn care is a must. Make sure you are doing it right with our ten tips to a lush, green spring-to-summer lawn.

Clean up 

 Rake away that thatch. Yes. Rake. Although it is something that seems to be done to your lawn almost all year round, as there is also raking in the summer and autumn, it is one task that is up in the priority list! Deep raking is particularly necessary as it not only removes the leaves and grass blades, it gets rid of snow mold and the thatch build-up, too! This makes hitting two birds with one stone totally worth the effort!

 Get your soil in top shape 

 Liming. Before growing a healthy lawn, it is a must to be sure it is ready to grow healthy. After what winter has put your soil through, it pays to check your soil PH to know if your soil needs amendments. Get that soil test kit ready early in spring and see whether your soil is acidic or alkaline. Take note that the presence of moss may often mean there’s acidity. Take caution in applying lime, though. Do not apply lime within 2-3 weeks after fertilizing. This may cause a reaction on the ingredients and they will lose their effect altogether.

Lawn Aeration. Compaction is the enemy of growth. Make way for water and essential nutrients by loosening your soil through aeration. You may have to wait until late spring to apply this process, though, as it is best during high growth periods for your grass to continue to thrive.

Say no to bare spots! What could ruin your grassy lawn worse than a bald spot? Well, there is no cause to panic. Simply flush the spot with water and remove the dead grass. Level the spot out with soil and reseed with your grass variety. Voila! Off with the bare spot!

Fertilizing. Go light on feeding your greens in the early spring. Give them time to digest the fertilizers. Very often, overwhelming your grass with fertilizers does far worse. Not to mention the amount of weeds you will invite by overfeeding your grass!

Control your weeds before they take control 

 The magic of herbicides. You’ll be surprised at the competition your lawn grass has with crabgrass and other weeds. That is what pre-emergent herbicides and post-emergent herbicides were created for. If weeds and crabgrass are known to pester your lawn perennially, go for pre-emergent herbicides. Be mindful of timing when applying this, though, as it does not only go against the growth of crabgrass and weeds, but of your grass seeds, too. Count back two to three weeks when weeds begin to grow and apply the pre-emergent herbicide on your lawn. It works against the growth of your grass, too, so if proper timing is missed, resorting to post-emergents. Apply post-emergent herbicides to destroy already established weeds.

Pulling the weeds. You cannot keep all the weeds off your lawn. It is all too easy for natural causes like animals, birds, and even the wind to blow weed seeds from other lawns. Hence, it is not a bad idea to employ pulling of the weeds as a prevention method!

Mowing. Invest in well maintained mowing equipment and make your summer and autumn mowing a breeze! As they say, it pays to take care of your mower so it can take care of your lawn. Their blades are meant to be sharp so the grass is cut crisp and they can heal fast after cutting. Remember not to cut more than the top third of the blade off. It is never a good idea to scalp your lawn. Also, did you know that mixing up your mowing directions ensures a uniform cut and reduces the possibility of compaction?

Watering. Keep in mind that cold air is very drying to plants and lawns. Do not let your lawns go dry. Make sure your lawn gets at least 1” of water per week!

Lawn Maintenance. Keep your lawn safe from insects as much as you do from weeds. Summer brings insects that may damage your carefully grown grass. Be ready with insecticides to be sprinkled on your lawn for the elimination of soil grubs and insects. This is usually a one-time application that lasts for seasons.

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