Most homeowners know what services are necessary for good lawn care: proper mowing, aeration, overseeding, adequate hydration and fertilizer. Aeration is one of the most beneficial lawn care services, especially if you live in an area that experiences episodes of little to no rainfall. Aerating your lawn will allow the water from your irrigation system to reach the grass roots directly and be immediately absorbed. However, even though aeration ensures that your lawn and soil are manipulated, you should go one step further and also have your soil periodically tested by a lawn care professional.

A soil test is a fairly simple procedure and many lawn care companies offer the service for free in conjunction with their lawn care programs. The lawn care technician will take a small soil sample and have it sent to a lab. A qualified soil expert will examine the sample and look at the pH level (acidity); the presence or absence of such macronutrients as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen; the presence or absence of such micronutrients as iron, calcium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper and other nutrients that deter weed growth and enhance the lawn’s resistance to insect and disease infestations; the soil type, which can help your lawn care technician create a preventative plan to reduce the incidence of compaction; and levels of decomposed plant material, also known as thatch.

Once the results are back, your lawn care specialists can consult with you on what the best plan of action is regarding your lawn care regimen. To schedule a soil analysis, call your local lawn care company today.

Winter pruning allows West Berlin tree care experts to fully assess the health and structural integrity of the tree without the interference of foliage. It is important to have this process scheduled early on in the winter in order to give West Berlin tree care specialists time to accurately diagnose any problems and devise solutions to keep your landscape looking beautiful.

Winter is the ideal time for pruning because the limbs can be fully assessed without the weight of foliage on them. Pruning is generally known to encourage growth, so when it occurs during the growing season, new tissue and bark are constantly being added to the branches. When the foliage is no longer on the tree, proper pruning can take place to establish how much dead or decaying material is on the tree.

Pruning during the growing season is encouraged, but can disrupt the tree’s energy. Tree care authorities say that since leaves are the primary food source for trees, the pruning that goes on during the summer actually decreases the amount of energy the tree is getting. Obviously the tree is capable of getting through the winter on reserved energy sources, so pruning does not have as much of an impact.

Another reason why winter pruning is ideal and beneficial is because the tree is completely dormant, including disease and insect activity. Pruning sometimes makes trees vulnerable to insect infestations and diseases, especially if the pruning techniques aren’t performed correctly and the tree is wounded. If perchance the tree is wounded during winter pruning, it will be able to seal before or during the early spring before insects and diseases become active once again.

For more information on winter pruning, contact your local West Berlin tree care company and schedule a consultation!

It isn’t uncommon for trees to be the cause of extensive property damage that may end up costing you thousands of dollars in repair costs. In some severe cases, a falling tree can even cause serious bodily injuries or death. Here are some West Berlin tree care tips to help you avoid the possibility of tree damage to your property.

The first step in preventing property damage from a tree falling is to call your local West Berlin tree care company. These experts can help you identify weak spots of the trees and other indicators that the tree or trees on your property could be potentially dangerous. The easiest way to keep your home safe is to make sure your trees are healthy, which can be easily done with the help of West Berlin tree care specialists.

Another problem to look for is dead trees. If a tree no longer has support, it is only a matter of time until the root structure completely gives way and allows the tree to collapse. Even if the tree itself isn’t dead, dead or dying tree branches are still a considerable hazard.

Another thing West Berlin tree care experts look for is rotting tree parts. This signals that the tree is weak, which means it could break and cause damage. Any kind of split or cracks in the tree should be immediately inspected.

A good indicator that a tree is likely to cause damage is by assessing its lean. If a tree is leaning considerably in one direction, there is a possibility that one strong gust of wind can be all it takes to break the tree.

If your trees are exhibiting any of these characteristics, it is important to call your West Berlin tree care company and get started on corrective action before your property is damaged or someone is hurt.

Mowing might seem like the simplest of West Berlin lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your West Berlin lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your West Berlin lawn. Here are some West Berlin lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.

Most West Berlin lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.

Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the West Berlin lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your West Berlin lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.

Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your West Berlin lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your West Berlin lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.

If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local West Berlin lawn care professionals.

Japanese Beetles are a common landscape pest, affecting both trees and West Berlin lawns alike. While these pests cause issues for your West Berlin lawn by laying eggs underneath the soil, the affect they have on trees comes from their own feeding. A perfectly healthy tree can be seriously damaged if corrective action isn’t taken by a professional West Berlin tree care specialist.

Japanese Beetles are often found in clusters because their scent attracts more beetles to the area. So even if you see only a few beetles here and there at the beginning of the season, don’t be fooled; over time this population will rapidly increase.

Tree care experts say the best way to protect your ornamentals is by placing a fine netting material over the foliage. However, this obviously is not feasible when you are dealing with a larger tree. If this is the case, professional-grade insecticides need to be utilized to eliminate Japanese Beetle populations. Most West Berlin tree care companies will employ insecticides that are injected into the soil around the tree in order to get the formula directly into the root system. This will cause the Japanese Beetles to die after they consume the treated foliage.

If Japanese Beetles are common to your area, it is important to implement preventative care to ensure your ornamentals remain protected. Call your local West Berlin tree care company and have an expert give you the best West Berlin tree care possible!

As the cooler temperatures arrive and you’ll soon be exchanging your leaf rake for snow shovel, consider a few simple leaf raking tips that will help winterize your lawn while increasing your chances for a better spring green-up.

How well you maintain the leaves in your lawn is a large indicator for how healthy and prepared your lawn will be for next season. When neglected, leaves can suffocate and rob turf of sunlight, water and other essential nutrients. For every leaf that lies on top of your turf, multiple blades of grass beneath it run the risk of browning or even worse, developing patches of mold or fungus depending on how low temperatures drop in your area.

Depending on your yard, raking once a week should be sufficient in at least warding off fungus and disease from developing in your lawn. If you do step up to twice a week, try to keep it to a light raking as it will be gentler on your lawn. Raking is a natural form of dethatching but a little layer of thatch build up is actually healthy for your turf. Just be sure the second raking doesn’t over do it.

If you want to save time and utilize leaves for compost, a mulching mower is a smart investment. A mulching mower can be very beneficial to your lawn as it will chop up and shred leaves to easily decompose in the soil. This granulizes leaves into a natural fertilizer to be absorbed into your lawn.

Check back next week for more information about the absorbing of nutrients in your lawn.

You have been noticing that your lawn is not growing as fast as it should or perhaps it just does not appear as vibrant as it used to look. You may want to call your lawn care company and ask them to perform a soil analysis. There could be several explanations as to why your lawn isn’t thriving, but one reason may be that the pH level of your soil is not where it should be. If that is the case, your lawn care specialists will more than likely suggest lime applications to correct the acidity level. However, wood ashes are an alternative to lime applications that with continual use can have the same level of effectiveness as lime.
The reason wood ashes are used to correct the pH level of soil is because the ashes contain small quantities of boron, potassium, phosphate and other elements pertinent to increasing the soil’s pH level. If you do decide to use wood ashes, you need to be vigilant about using them often and having your soil’s acidity tested annually. Wood ashes are particularly effective in sandy soils. Lawn care experts recommend spreading a thin layer of the ashes over the soil in the winter, then mixing the ashes in with the soil again in the spring. Be aware of what other plants the ashes come into contact with, as they can cause damage to plant roots or seedlings that are in a state of germination.
If you aren’t sure about how much to use or how to correctly apply the wood ashes, call your lawn care professional.

Wisteria trees are a stunning addition to your landscape and definitely give it that “pop” you want to make your property stand out from the rest. Wisteria trees offer wispy, sweeping foliage with lavender blossoms which infuse a perfect fragrance for enjoying your outdoor living space. Some think such a beautiful tree must be a handful when it comes to West Berlin tree care, but they are actually easy to mind and some tree specialists say they even flourish under neglect. So get out your pruning shears, some twine, stakes and water. We’ll show you just how easy Wisteria West Berlin tree care can be.

Stabilize your Wisteria

You first need to stabilize the trunk of your Wisteria tree by fashioning a frame-like device. Push or hammer a solid stake six-to-12 inches deep into the ground, about a half inch away from the tree. Choose a stake that is long enough so you don’t have to constantly pull up the old stake and insert a new one to adjust the attachments. Using your twine, loosely but firmly, secure the tree’s trunk to the stake every eight inches. Tree care specialists say it is important to check the twine at the beginning and end of each season to ensure it isn’t restricting the Wisteria’s growth and also pinch off shoots as they appear on the trunk.

Basic West Berlin tree care for your Wisteria

The first year of a tree’s life is very important, as it needs a great deal of attention. Getting your Wisteria the right amount of water is very vital during this time. Tree care experts recommend giving the tree an inch of water each week. You need to make sure the water reaches deep into the ground so the roots are able to access the moisture. Tree care specialists don’t recommend fertilizing unless the ground has dry or sandy soil.

Protect your Wisteria during colder months

If you live in an area that experiences extreme temperatures, snow, cold winds and ice, it is imperative that you protect your Wisteria during these months. If you don’t want to perform the necessary steps or aren’t sure what to do, call your local West Berlin tree care company and have them winterize your Wisteria. They will place plastic tubing around the tree to protect it from the elements. Tree care experts also recommend tying the branches together with twine (carefully, of course) to lessen their exposure to wind, rain and ice. The rain and ice especially can easily break the newly formed branches.

Prune you Wisteria to perfection

Pruning is a very important part of adequate West Berlin tree care. You want to keep your Wisteria in a globe-like shape by pruning the dead or dying foliage or branches. This will also promote health and growth. The Wisteria grows rapidly, so it’s important to prune often if you want to keep it at a certain length. Before winter begins, you should prune away all the shoots on each branch with the exception of the first five or six.

When your West Berlin lawn needs fertilized, the best solution is to contact your local West Berlin lawn care company and have the professionals attend to the task. However, if you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, then there is some research to be done on the subject. Not all fertilizers are the same, so you should decide which fertilizer is right for your West Berlin lawn, how much should be applied, when it should be applied, as well as what to do to ensure the application is successful. If you’re using granule fertilizer, you will want to look into purchasing a spreader to disseminate the fertilizer evenly.
There are generally two types of spreaders: drop spreaders and broadcast spreaders. Broadcast spreaders are particularly advantageous for those who have a large West Berlin lawn to cover. However, if the area you’re fertilizing is small, a drop spreader might be more ideal.
Whereas broadcast spreaders fling the fertilizer in every direction, drop spreaders are more focused, releasing the fertilizer directly underneath the device through the hopper. This means you have to make certain you have covered that area thoroughly, or else you could have some areas of your West Berlin lawn growing wildly while other sections barely look alive. Another downfall to using a drop spreader is the risk of over-fertilizing your West Berlin lawn; applying fertilizer is a very delicate balance and if you apply too much fertilizer, you run the risk of frying your West Berlin lawn.
If this sounds like too much of a hassle or you’re not particularly good at staying within the lines, your best option is to contact your local professional West Berlin lawn care company and leave the fertilizing to them. Sometimes having a beautiful, successful West Berlin lawn means leaving it up to the pros!

When your New Jersey lawn needs fertilized, the best solution is to contact your local New Jersey lawn care company and have the professionals attend to the task. However, if you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, then there is some research to be done on the subject. Not all fertilizers are the same, so you should decide which fertilizer is right for your New Jersey lawn, how much should be applied, when it should be applied, as well as what to do to ensure the application is successful. If you’re using granule fertilizer, you will want to look into purchasing a spreader to disseminate the fertilizer evenly.

There are generally two types of spreaders: drop spreaders and broadcast spreaders. Broadcast spreaders are particularly advantageous for those who have a large New Jersey lawn to cover. However, if the area you’re fertilizing is small, a drop spreader might be more ideal.

Whereas broadcast spreaders fling the fertilizer in every direction, drop spreaders are more focused, releasing the fertilizer directly underneath the device through the hopper. This means you have to make certain you have covered that area thoroughly, or else you could have some areas of your New Jersey lawn growing wildly while other sections barely look alive. Another downfall to using a drop spreader is the risk of over-fertilizing your New Jersey lawn; applying fertilizer is a very delicate balance and if you apply too much fertilizer, you run the risk of frying your New Jersey lawn.

If this sounds like too much of a hassle or you’re not particularly good at staying within the lines, your best option is to contact your local professional New Jersey lawn care company and leave the fertilizing to them. Sometimes having a beautiful, successful New Jersey lawn means leaving it up to the pros!