Kansas City Landscaping Principles
by Kevin Robinson
An educated and serious person doesn't have to leave a professionally kept lawn to the professionals. But it is definitely true that a full service takes far more than a weekly cut and water. In this article we will cover fundamental methods that many professional Kansas City landscapers apply.
You must understand what the plant's need as a first step in cultivating the yard. Grasping this and being diligent to meet those needs will result in a beautiful and healthy lawn. Knowledge of needs will not fix anything, however. You must then take care of them properly.
Professional landscapers in Kansas City always treat the first couple of inches of soil, if possible. Treating the soil so that it has the right balance of sand, clay and organic matter will provide you with a loamy composition. The goal this texture is proper moisture retention and gas-diffusion. Some people don't understand that roots need to stay moist and exchange Carbon dioxide for O2.
The soil should also have the right level of acidity (pH). Your Kansas City landscaping supplier or garden store will have a test-kit. After testing, the next step is to condition the soil to raise or lower the pH. Lime and ash are know to raise the levels (make more alkaline), and organic compost, mulch, or nitrogen-rich material will lower (acidify) the level.. Kansas City lawns are commonly too acidic (low pH) and need to be brought to near neutral. Kansas City landscaping shops will have the tools and materials you need. Application methods depend on the material you are using, so ask about what you should do
Kansas City's snow and heavy rain create problems of erosion and standing water, which can eventually harm grass roots. You have to guard the top layer of soil or the grass will die. Erosion removes the protective layer of soil over the roots and dries them out while standing water suffocates the roots and prevents the exchange of nutrients. To prevent this you should re-grade areas that are too steep or that are prone to standing water. Installing sod in steeper areas or utilizing landscaping technology like erosion blankets can help in especially steep areas.
You will need to choose between using sod or seed for covering bare areas. Sod gives you instant grass. That's its greatest strength. But if you are needing a mixed variety of grass or needing to stay on a budget, seed is superior.
A great way to find out which varieties of grass will grow well in your yard is to spread several seed varieties and see which one thrives the best. This can be particularly helpful if more than one condition is present- like when one area of the yard is heavily shaded and another receives full sun. This is a common practice used by professional landscapers in Kansas City to combat the varied conditions in the local region. Seek advice or help from a professional for your unique regional needs.
Watering too often or not often enough can be detrimental. Soaking the soil once per week, enough to keep the soil damp, is the general rule for most Kansas City landscapers. Thatch and fungus are a result of over watering, though you must also never allow the roots to become dry. If the soil is correctly conditioned-draining properly but retaining moisture- 2 inches of water once a week is usually sufficient.
Your yard can become choked and overly stressed by thatch over time. If left unattended it will harm the yard and cause unhealthy growth patterns. Nonetheless, a bit of thatch under a lush lawn is fine. It can even help hold water and micro-nutrients in the soil.
Zoysia is one of several varieties of grass that must have a regular de-thatching. A simple stiff hand-rake or power-rake will accomplish the job. Don't harm the existing grass as you rake the dead thatch out from the yard. Remove the thatch with a mower or by hand, and do not simply mulch it back into the yard.
Rain, snow and foot-traffic will compact your yard's soil all year long. Grass roots will then be impaired as they attempt to draw water and nutrients- a main obstruction in developing a proper yard.
Kansas City landscapers treat this issue by aerating. This breaks up the surface of the soil and places holes several inches deep. This not only decompresses the soil but also provides surface-area for effective gas-exchange.
Kansas City landscapers know that late Winter is the time to apply a pre-emergent. This chemical stops a critical enzyme process that makes weed-seeds germinate. Weeds are therefore greatly diminished before they even take root.
Food is needed if your grass is going to stay healthy. The soil will lose nutrients over time through various processes. Nutrients must be replaced or stress and disease can permanently harm the yard. Kansas City landscapers recommend at least two feedings per year. And if it does not get too hot, where the grass is too stressed to feed, a Summer feeding is ideal. Chemical fertilizers are one option or, a more natural method, organic materials like composted foliage.
When the grass is too long, or if it has gone to seed, it is best to mow it and wait a few days before fertilizing, or else the nutrient will not be uniformly spread. Yet, if the grass has just been cut the nitrogen can damage the plant by burning it. Make sure to wait a few days after mowing.. It is necessary to highlight that lots of people believe cutting their grass shorter will save them work later, but this is not true. Imitate professional landscapers in Kansas City and use the higher settings on your mower.
Kansas City landscapers always apply a fungicide at least once per year because local yards are prone to infection. Yards that get flooded or have poor drainage can be infected suddenly, almost overnight. Kansas City landscaping is principally vulnerable to fungus in milder seasons while it rains and the water does not dry completely.
Savvy Kansas City landscapers know that the best defense against disease and pests is to keep the lawn in peak health. A vibrant lawn is the best shield against drought and stress, just as a healthy person will fare better when sickness comes. A stressed or underfed lawn can be fragile and permanently harmed by even one day of bad weather but a healthy yard will stay strong through tough times.
These are the fundamental issues that every lawn-care strategy should include. Don't give up if things take a while and stick to the plan. It will give your family a fun place to play and relax while giving you time to unwind and work on a project. So have fun and enjoy!
Does landscapers get your interest? You should get more details about <a href="http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/kansas-city-landscaping-company-benefits-drought-while-gearing-spring">landscaping in Kansas City</a>.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Kansas City Landscaping Principles
Author: Kevin Robinson
Email: autodetailinghq@gmail.com
Keywords: Lawn Care,Landscaping,Home Improvement,Garden Maintenance,Lawn,Garden,Lawn and Garden,Yard Care,Landscape Maintenance,Landscaper Secrets
Word Count: 1132
Category: Hobbies
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