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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Environment Friendly Tips to Clear Snow and Ice

The mercury has dipped and keeps dipping. You look out of your window and see a dazzling, white blanket of snow covering everything from your car, to your mailbox, to your driveway. This snow needs to be removed at some point. Ice and snow removal is an unavoidable part of winter and somebody’s got to do it. Before you start, stop to consider if the way you remove snow and ice is harmful for the environment. There are many ways of removing ice and snow. However, a lot of these methods affect our environment, our children, and our pets. Snow and ice control can be done with more sustainable materials.

Let us look at some environment friendly alternatives to removing snow from our properties.

• Organic de-icer – Instead of using salt, use organic de-icers. These may be slightly more expensive but are not as harmful as salt. These are also pet friendly and do not harm plants.
• Coffee grind – When you drink coffee, store the grind for use later. Coffee grind is of a dark color and will absorb sunlight even when it is cloudy. As a result, it will melt ice and not harm your plants or pets in the process.
• Alfalfa meal – Being a natural fertilizer, it is not as harmful to the environment as salt. It provides traction for vehicles and clears ice on roads.
• Sugar Beet Juice – Juice obtained from sugar beet can be used as a natural ice melter. It reduces the melting point of both snow and ice.
• Sand – Sand is a good thing to use for traction, but in moderation. Too much of it might clog drains when the spring melt begins.
• Snow Melt Mat – This a great way to melt the snow from your driveway and it does not harm the environment as much as salt does. It involves installing a snow melt mat underneath the driveway. Once the ice and snow accumulate, from the comfort of your home, switch on the mat. It will heat up and melt all the snow away.
• Snow Blower – If you use a snow blower, upgrade to an electric model. The snow blowers that run on gas, pollute the air and adds to air and noise pollution.
• Shovel – There is no better and more environment friendly way to remove snow than to shovel it. It is good exercise and it will ensure that ice melt products are used as little as possible. Choose a good shovel so that you don’t strain your back.

Besides these, there are many reasons not to use the conventional ice melt products. Salt melts ice very easily but it comes at a high price. It is corrosive and cause damage to cement and metal. Used excessively, it could eat into pipes and affect ground water. it could damage your car. If salt gets into lawns, it sucks the nutrients and the oxygen right out of the soil. It can stick to the paws of our pets and affects their health when they lick their paws. At the time of spring melt, it runs down into local water bodies and pollutes the water. If you want to know more about snow and ice control, contact All American Turf Beauty.

 

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Do’s and Don’ts of Removing Snow from Roofs – Roof Snow Removal

It is peak winter. It is snowing more heavily, and roads and sidewalks are covered in snow. There is snow in your driveway and on your porch. There is snow on your rooftop too. It is a good thing to leave two inches of snow on your roof. It will act as an insulant. Most rooftops are built to withstand some amount of snow. However, if you feel that you need to remove snow from your roof, here are some do’s and don’ts of roof snow removal you may want to keep in mind.

The weight of a cubic foot of dry snow is around seven pounds, and the weight of a cubic foot of wet snow is approximately 12 to 18 pounds. More than this could be dangerous for your house structurally. If you need to find out if there is excess snow on your roof, all you need to do is check your doors. If the doors inside your house get stuck, it means there is too much weight on the roof.

If you think simply getting any old roof rake to remove snow from the roof is good, you are much mistaken. It has to be the right kind of rake, made of the right material, so as not to harm your roof.

Do’s

1. A snow rake is ideal for removing snow from a pitched roof.
2. Remove snow from the edge of the roof first and only then move in.
3. Be wary of metal tools as they could conduct electricity if there are power lines nearby.
4. Also, use plastic tools instead of metal ones as metal tools could damage the shingles and other parts of your roof.
5. If you have a flat roof, simply shovel the snow off the sides, away from the house.
6. Keep ventilation openings and drain spouts free of snow.
7. If in doubt, contact a professional snow removal service to remove snow from your roof.

Don’ts

1. It is best not to use a regular ladder if you want to climb up to remove snow from your roof. The rungs of these ladders usually gather ice.
2. Do not use electronic devices to melt ice or snow from the roof.
3. Do not use open flame tools to remove ice and snow from the roof.
4. Do not get on the roof to remove snow unless absolutely necessary. It will add more weight to your roof.
5. Do not put snow removal equipment on your roof. This will add more weight to your roof.
6. Do not be offhand about removing icicles. These can cause injury even if they fall from a short height.

It is always good to remember that if you are not confident about removing snow from your roof, call a professional service that specializes in roof snow removal. They have the right equipment and the expertise for the job. For more information, contact All American Turf Beauty.

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The Importance of Commercial Snow Removal for Safety

Winter makes everything around look beautiful. However, the accumulation of snow needs to be taken care of. Snow removal is the need of the hour. It is important for homeowners and businesses alike. Commercial snow removal is done on a larger scale than snow removal for residences. Commercial properties have bigger parking lots and driveways. They also have larger areas from which to remove snow. Moreover, business owners have to worry about the safety of more people – their employees and customers.

Business owners have to be mindful foremost of safety and then of accessibility. Below, we have listed some of the reasons why snow removal on commercial properties is all the more essential.

Safety of Customers and Employees

Whether it be the sidewalk leading to your business, the pathway, the driveway, or the parking lot, you need to ensure that these areas are clear of snow and ice accumulation. Ice accumulation, especially, can lead to slip and fall accidents. The safety of your customers and employees is your responsibility. The entrances and ramps need to be inspected and so does the parking lot. Due to fluctuations in temperature, snow often melts and accumulates at the feet of the ramp and becomes treacherous water puddles. This freezes again and may cause accidents.

Sidewalks, shortcuts, and byways also need to be regularly inspected and cleared. Sometimes, snow removal companies pile up snow in places where the dumpsters are kept, or near the mailbox. They sometimes even dump snow on fire hydrants. Customers and employees need to use these things. They need to be clear of snow.

Roofs need to be clear of snow as well. Snow from rooftops often blow onto sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots, if there is a strong wind. Also, snow melt and refreeze can cause slippery surfaces. These are deceptive because snow is not visible. Along with ice melt procedures, it is desirable to light up the paths to and from your property adequately. De-icing should be done and weather mats should be installed as soon as ice and snow begin to accumulate.

The Right Equipment

Choose the right equipment for snow removal from your property. A shovel is almost always inadequate from any kind of snow removal on a commercial property. A plow and a truck are more the equipment for the job.

Salt and Ice Melt

Ice build-up, over a sustained period of time, in cold temperatures can create dangerous situations for customers and employees. It gets thicker, harder, and difficult to see. De-icing material should be used before this happens, at the appropriate time and in the right amount.

Liquid De-icers

Liquid de-icers are less expensive than salt. These also cause less damage to property than salt. The spraying is much more precise. However, liquid de-icers take longer to work and are therefore, used as solution for pre-treatment.

Salt

Salt works faster but is more damaging to property. But, it works faster which is why it is preferred to liquid de-icers.

For more information on commercial snow removal, call All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 and schedule an appointment today.

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Top 10 Tools to Use for Snow Removal

Winter is here, spreading its frosty breath over all that moves. The earth is covered in a blanket of white snow that glistens in all its dazzling splendor. All this beauty is material for poetry. However, when you have to wake up and go to work and find fresh snow, a foot deep, making your driveway untraversable, you come crashing down to reality. These are times when you need your trusty snow removal tools at hand.

It is wise to do your shopping for these tools with enough time in hand. When a heavy spell of snowing hits, you will neither have time nor opportunity to go to the hardware store and pick and choose the tools that you prefer. If you haven’t already, now is as good a time as any. While choosing snow removal tools, it is best to go for something that is customized to your specific needs. You need to think about your level of fitness as well. Here, we have listed some options that may help.

1. Snow Shovels: Snow shovels are a byword in every household. Every winter, homeowners are out shoveling snow with their shovels. However, snow shoveling is not just a chore. It’s no less than a good workout. That’s why it is very important that you have the right kind of shovel. It should have a deep and wide body so that it can move a good amount of snow.
2. Smart Snow Shovels: Smart snow shovels have rotating handles so that you don’t have to move too much to adjust your position while shoveling snow. It is a smart investment.
3. Snow Pushers: You may also use a snow pusher instead of a snow shovel. The advantage you will have with this tool is that you will not have to lift the snow. You can simply push it away. This way, your back will be saved the trouble of bending and lifting.
4. Snow Blower: These look and function like lawn mowers except that they remove snow. It is a second stage snow removal tool. It has an auger that picks up the snow and sends it to the impeller. The impeller then blows the snow. There is a chute for the snow to leave the machine.
5. Electric Snow Thrower: This tool is electric and in one movement, sucks in the snow and throws it away. It is slightly different from a snow blower. It is a one stage machine for snow removal.
6. Snow Plow: A snow plow is somewhere between a snow pusher and a snow blower.
7. Wheeled Snow Plows: A wheeled snow plow is a snow plow with wheels. This makes it easier to use and move snow from one place to another.
8. Roof Rake: When snow or ice accumulates on the roofs of houses, it is essential to remove it after a point. Roof rakes help in removing snow from on top of roofs.
9. Telescoping Shovel: Ever had to shovel snow from under the tires of your car? Difficult, isn’t it?! Well, here is your solution. A telescoping shovel is built to reach odd, steep angles. This is why this is a very effective tool to get stubborn snow away from the path of your car tires.
10. Shop Broom: A shop broom may be used to clear away light, flaky snow that lie on sidewalks.

For all other assistance with snow removal, call All American Turf Beauty at 1-800-365-8873 and schedule an appointment today.

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