El Cajon lawn care services
Despite the challenges of growing plants in the often-drought-stricken region of San Diego, the people of El Cajon seem to appreciate greenery a lot. The fact that Water Conservation Garden, Butterfly Garden, and Summers Past Farms attract so many tourists is proof of this love. Nevertheless, maintaining a lush lawn outside of your own home is an entirely different story. El Cajon has an arid Mediterranean climate that fluctuates drastically even within the boundary of the same city. The farther a place is from the sea, the more arid it is. The mountains are an exception to this general rule because their slopes cause the clouds to move up and accumulate, thus creating rain. The temperature varies between 86°F and 44°F throughout the year, with an average annual rainfall of just 14 inches.
As you might have already guessed, efficient irrigation and watering play a pivotal role in San Diego lawn care. Furthermore, the soil is quite clay-like here. Clay has poor drainage and a high water-retaining capacity. This makes it difficult for the grass to spread its roots. That's why experts always emphasize the importance of considering the demands of your lawn in relation to the location of your home before making any major decisions. The pros can help you make such decisions and guide rookies through the process of lawn maintenance.
Learn to water efficiently
Water is a precious resource. Californians know that very well. So, stop wasting it! According to various studies done on this topic, a lot of the water we use for our lawns goes to waste. But why? The process of evaporation turns as much as 30% of the water into steam before it gets the chance to be absorbed into the soil, especially at noon in summer. Everyone knows that under-watering causes the grass to dry up, but what many homeowners don't realize is that they frequently end up over-watering it, which is just as bad, if not worse. We at Lawn Love have compiled some tips on how to minimize water wastage.
1.Water according to the season
It's quite obvious that the water requirements of your lawn change as the seasons do. In winter, it requires less water: about two times a week should be enough. On the other hand, you need to use a lot more water to keep the grass from wilting and becoming droopy in summer.
2.Water deeply but less frequently
A good tip for watering grass is to do it for 20-30 minutes straight. This will result in the absorption of water to a depth of a few inches so that it can reach even the deepest roots. If you water for less than 10 minutes, the water may only end up in the upper thin layer of soil, which is the most prone to water loss through evaporation. Moreover, water around two times a week. In summer, if you find that it's very hot outside, consider doing it triweekly with slight showers every day to keep your lawn cool.
3.Water evenly
Make sure that you don't water the same area too often while neglecting other areas completely. To grow a uniform carpet of grass on your lawn, you must fertilize, water, and aerate it evenly. This is also a good way to avoid the formation of bald or yellow spots, which are an eyesore for every homeowner.
4.Water with sprinklers
If you can afford it, you should ditch the hosepipe and invest in a good irrigation sprinkler. Not only do these devices make life a whole lot easier, but they also ensure that your lawn is evenly watered. Some sprinklers come with a system that lets you set the time, duration, and pattern of sprinkling. If you get your hands on one of those, hats off to you, buddy! Remember to position the sprinklers in a way that the water doesn't fall on any nearby pavement or marble surface - to conserve water, of course.
How to manage clay soil
The properties of soil are largely determined by the size of its constituent particles. Sand has the largest particles, whereas clay has the smallest. Silt, which is the best in terms of both drainage and water-holding capacity, has particles of intermediate size. When we talk about growing plants, loam is considered the most fertile kind of soil. It is, in fact, a mixture of mostly silt, some clay and sand, organic matter, essential minerals, and water. Loam can support even the frailest of grasses. However, the soil in El Cajon is heavy in clay. This introduces a number of problems, including poor drainage, easy compaction, frost heave, and alkalinity. Though frustrating, it is manageable if the following things are kept in mind.
Since clay and clay-like soils are deficient in organic substances, try adding organic matter, such as grass clippings, manure, and fallen leaves. Dig up and mix the top 10-12 inches of the soil with a shovel or tiller. In addition to enriching the soil with nutrients, this process will also aerate it to some extent. Once your lawn is established, you might end up needing little or no additional organic matter to maintain it because the fallen leaves will provide it as they rot.
Clay soil can become compacted very easily. So you need to aerate it frequently, especially when your lawn is still not fully established. If you feel the need to apply fertilizer, opt for acidic ones like sulfate fertilizers, which will help in lowering the pH of the soil.
The pros found through Lawn Love can help you with this and a lot more. We make lawn care fast and convenient. All you need to do is visit our website and get a quote. You can even check out the services we offer.
If you want to get more information regarding the services provided by Lawn Love, you can contact us by phone or email.
