One of the many benefits of living in the south is milder winters. While we may still get snowfall, lawn care in Knoxville is different compared to that of our northern neighbors. Our lawn care battles are generally not heavy snowfall but the spread of winter annual weeds. Thankfully, modern lawn care innovations have provided effective yet environmentally friendly options to combat lawn infestations. From spot treatment to fertilizer, there’s plenty of ways to improve the overall appearance of your yard.
Essential Lawn Care Services for Knoxville Area Yards:
To maximize your lawns health, it’s crucial to delve into the foundation of your lawn’s well-being. That means taking matters into your own hands to better understand the condition of your yard.
Perform a Soil Test
This is perhaps the most important step, so make sure to ask your lawn care service if they perform soil testing. It takes the guesswork out of lawn care. Imagine taking your car to the mechanic and having them guess what’s wrong without actually diagnosing the problem. You’ve invested time and money into your yard. Why not create the perfect lawn care treatment plan? A sample of your yard’s soil is removed and tested for nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. In this way, your lawn care professionals will know exactly what your grass needs to succeed. In addition, you’ll be alerted to any contaminants in your soil that you may not have realized are there. Lastly, you’ll know your lawn’s pH level. This number is crucial. If it’s out of balance, your lawn may not be receptive to the nutrients and fertilizer that is applied. There’s no point in laying down fertilizer if your lawn won’t absorb it. In short, the soil test gives you all the data to create a solid lawn treatment program customized for your lawn.
Use a Spot Treatment
Employing a spot treatment as part of your east Tennessee lawn care program will prevent winter annuals from popping up. These include nuisances like Common Chickweed, Purple Deadnettle, and Shepherd’s Purse. Because your lawn is not actively growing in the winter season, it’s more susceptible to infestation from broadleaf weeds. Spot treatments target the problem areas directly at the source. You won’t have to cover your entire lawn in the weed killer.
Fertilize, Fertilize, Fertilize!
Consider using dry granular fertilizer. Unlike its liquid counterparts, this type of fertilizer releases slowly, ensuring an even spread of nutrients over your lawn. Consequently, you won’t have to worry about fertilizer accidentally clustering or puddling, and thus creating pockets of over-fertilized grass that grows faster than the rest of the lawn. This type of fertilizer is also environmentally friendly. The ideal time to apply is late autumn since the grass will start to go dormant and direct nutrients towards its roots. By fertilizing now, you’ll ensure a beautiful lawn next spring.
Get Rid of Dead Leaves
Unless you enjoy looking at dead patches of grass, you’ll want to make certain any dead leaves are removed before winter. While they can be used as a natural mulch, leaving too thick of a layer on your garden beds and lawn can have a detrimental effect. While east Tennessee lawn care, and southern lawn care in general, may require more moisture, dead leaves can actually trap too much moisture which can lead to root rot. Additionally, grass can be smothered from reduced sunlight and oxygen.
Enlist the Help of the Professionals at Emerald Island Lawn Care Service
Let our team of highly trained professionals deliver top-notch lawn care! We’ll assess your lawn’s specific needs and tailor your lawn care program accordingly. Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive Knoxville lawn care. Contact us online or by phone at 865-588-4497. Best to call us now, fall is the perfect time for fertilization before the tree becomes dormant over the winter.