We take pride in our lawns it is where have host our annual barbecues and where our children enjoy the sun. We do anything we can to keep them healthy, especially getting rid of those pesky weeds. From dandelions to clover weeds riddle our lawns, but how do we effectively combat weeds? Simple way to combat weeds is to know what type of grass you have. Yes, there are many different types of grass and each one has its own unique way of being taken care of. Once you know what type of grass you have the simplest way to prevent weeds is to mow your lawn. As simple as this is, knowing what type of grass you have will determine the right height to cut the grass.

Grass that is too short can let sunlight into the undergrowth giving nourishment to would be weeds like ivy. While being too tall prevents sunlight to the undergrowth allowing that do not need too much sun to flourish. Now no matter how well you take care of your lawn there will be weeds, these weeds you can simply hand pick. Make sure when you do to get as close to the root as possible before pulling; if you just pluck the weed without the root then it will grow back and multiply creating a sea of weeds. If you have an invasion of weeds knowing what weeds they are will help get ride of them faster. There are two categories of weeds perennials and annual.  Annual weeds refer to weeds that only spread by seed like dandelions.

We all love picking them and blowing the white seeds watching them fly around. These types of weeds are the easiest to get ride of before spring comes, the perfect time is right before winter when the grass stops growing for the year, and spray herbicides to prevent the seeds that are already there from growing come spring. If you are patient you can just carefully pick them to get rid of them. Perennial weeds refer to those that multiply by seeds as well as roots. Some people come them creeping or crawling root weeds, these are the hard ones to get rid of. Trying to pick them by hand is difficult because you will start to find the web of roots spreading around the grass.

Keeping your grass mowed at about two inches will stunt the growth of these weeds and the combination of hand picking patches then spraying herbicide will help control the spread. If you start to get patches of dead grass you are in for a lost cause, get your gardening shovel and dig up the spots then reseed with new grass. If you don’t want harmful chemicals in your lawn there are homemade recipes that can help, but will require more work with your hands. Using common house hold ingredients such as salt, vinegar, and dish soap will create a eco friendly killer. Simply mix the ingredients is a container, I use empty water bottles and poke a hole in the cap to create a squirting affect, and go out to spray your weeds on a nice sunny day. Controlling weeds will give you a health green lawn to enjoy and boast to your neighbors. 

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During the summer we all fear what our water bill is going to look like from watering our lawns and gardens, but simple tools and tricks will help reduce the amount of water we consume. Reducing the amount of water, we use helps prevent droughts and lessens any impact it may have on the environment. We mow our lawn ideally twice a week, but changing the direction you mow each time will allow the roots of your grass to absorb water in all directions. Mowing in one direction every time will expose one side of the root system to the sun more than the other drying it out. Keeping your soil full of nutrients from fertilizing is key to a healthy lawn, but in hotter season you should reduce the amount of fertilization you do.

Over fertilizing in hot weather will dry out your lawn and unbalance PH levels. I fertilize once a month in the summer and it has been working for me for years. When you do fertilize hold off for a few days before watering this will allow the thirsty roots to absorb more water in less amount of time. Also, if you think you are going to get heavy rain fall then wait to fertilize. The grass will have an abundance of water in the soil to use when utilizing the fertilizer, you laid down for them. When it comes to watering your grass, you should water on a consistent schedule this will ensure that the grass has a stead source of water and will not need excessive watering if it becomes too dry. The optimal time to consistently water your lawn is in the early morning, this is when the morning dew softens the soil letting the grass store water during the hot afternoons.

Not watering after several dry days will benefit the grass by allowing the roots to grow in search of a water source. If you are like me and don’t want to water your grass with the hose, there are a lot of great sprinklers on the market that get the job done efficiently. Utilizing a smart sprinkler give you the ability to set times for the unit to turn on and off on its own. This will reduce the amount of water you consume because setting a strict time will use the same amount of water every time. You also want a unit that will evenly distribute the water so that your whole lawn gets the same amount of water. The Turbo oscillating sprinkler gives you the ability to set water flow, range and width that you want for your lawn. One of the best sprinklers on the market is the Nelson raintrain. This amazing sprinkler not only has the same abilities as the Turbo, but as a smart switch and 360-degree coverage. Watering your lawn doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet every summer. Watering smartly will ensure less costs and less water used.

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Learn How to Combat Out of Control Weed Growth

Lawns are the backbone of any memorable moments we have with friends and family during summer. It is easy to turn your lawn into a memorable one. The worst thing we all hate that happens to our lawn is when weeds start to grow. For some this situation is therapeutic. Picking weeds by hand is a time-consuming process, but the reward is very satisfying. Knowing how to pull weeds is easy pick the weed as far down as you can so that you pull the root, preventing it from growing back. When it comes to perennial weeds you will have to pull not only the root that grows into the ground, but also the roots that run around the ground. If hand picking weeds is not your think then you are in luck.

There is a tone of herbicides in the market for all kinds of weeds, but make sure that you buy the right one for the weed you are trying to get rid of. Living in the modern era there are organic herbicides and pesticides for your lawn so that you are not releasing to many chemicals into the environment. Keeping a lawn free of weeds will ensure the growth and health of your grass.  Controlling grubs and insects will also keep you and your lawn healthy. Grubs live in the soil eating away at the grass root they are a nuisance to get ride of.

Spraying pesticides in early spring will help control their spread, while spraying again in the summer will ensure that they are gone. Tackling bigger bugs is easy, set up bird houses and feeders to attract our local birds to a feast of seed and pests. Watering your lawn is an essential part of lawn maintains. You should find out what type of grass grows in your yard and water accordingly. A universal rule of watering is to do it in the early morning. For those that sleep in I recommend buying a sprinkler system that you can set a on and off time for. As long as you water, fertilize, weed and pest control your lawn you will have a epic barbecue ready lawn in no time.  I've got to to thank our friends at Lawn Care Boise for the helpful summer lawn care information!

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