Des Plaines lawn care services
Des Plaines is a cold city. During winter, the residents experience cold, strong winds whereas the summers are moderately warm and moist. It is partly cloudy throughout the year, with temperatures varying from 18 °F to 84 °F. It rarely goes below or above -1 °F and 92 °F, respectively. Des Plaines has a river running through the city thus, the neighborhood is vulnerable to flooding and rain overwhelming the drainage system.
How do these climate conditions affect your lawn? Excessive cold temperatures, snow, and freezing precipitation can completely ruin your lawns by killing your grass if left sitting on your grass for long periods. Even if your grass is a cool-season grass, snow sitting too long on it can make the blades easily breakable and brittle. Knowing and choosing appropriate grass for your lawn is the first step in lawn care.
Appropriate grass for Des Plaines
1.Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky is a popular cool-season grass type suitable for areas situated in the North. It is a perennial grass, which means it comes back each year and grows the most during the coolness of spring and fall. Kentucky bluegrass is perfect for places experiencing moderately warm summers and cold winters as it aligns with its requirements; thus, it is popular in Des Plaines. If provided with enough care and conditions fulfilled, a carpet of lush grass, dense grass is spread onto your lawns. Kentucky bluegrass's winter hardiness is excellent.
2.Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue adapts to a wide range of climates, along with a high cold tolerance; thus, it is a widely used cold-season grass. With its improved heat tolerance, it can withstand a certain amount of shade and drought conditions too. Moreover, this grass is also resistant to diseases making your lawns pest-free and reducing the use of pesticides and herbicide on your lawn. Its most vigorous growth is observed during the cool months of spring and fall. Tall Fescue also has the deepest root system compared to other cool-season grass, which can reach 2 to 3 feet deep in the ground. Also, it germinates faster than other cool-season grass seeds making it one of the top choices for Des Plaines.
3.Fine Fescue
Fine Fescue is low maintenance grass with a lesser requirement of fertilizer. It is an excellent choice for your cold climate and shady areas due to its shade tolerance. Its drought tolerance also makes it suitable during the early summer months. But it may go dormant if the drought period increases, however, it won't die and start growing once again after fall rain returns. It has tall needle-like leaves and forms a dense carpet on your lawn.
4.Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass, a cold-season grass, has a high cold tolerance and is widely used for lawns. Its heat and drought tolerance varies with its variety, but it can withstand light shade. The germination process and seed growth are also faster in Perennial Ryegrass. As the name suggests, Perennial Ryegrass establishes a permanent lawn and comes back every year whenever the climate is right.
Conditions of each grass type and its maintenance
1.Kentucky Bluegrass: requirements and maintenance
Even though Kentucky bluegrass has the highest cold resistance and is the top choice for your lawn in Des Plaines, there are some limitations to it. Since it has a shallow root system and is unable to absorb enough water from deep within the ground, drought conditions will require you to water it frequently in a week. You must water it at least half an inch. During winter, it will need to be mowed at 1.5 inches or lower, depending on your grass growth.
2.Tall Fescue: requirements and maintenance
In the warmer months, you are to mow your Tall Fescue from two and a half to 3 and a half inches, whereas, in winters, mow it between 2 and a half to 3 inches. You will need to test your soil before you apply fertilizer from September to November. This is a requirement, and without testing your soil, you may give your grass more than it needs or vice versa. It will result badly for your lawn. Therefore, it is convenient to follow all the steps. Watering at about 1 or 1 by 4 is required in spring and follows it throughout winter. During summer, water as needed or allow your lawn to go dormant, and it can continue growing once the cold season returns.
3.Fine Fescue: requirements and maintenance
You may require less effort for maintaining Fine Fescue, given it's a low maintenance grass. They go dormant under drought conditions, and your lawn may turn brown. Therefore, proper watering and irrigation when there isn't enough moisture is a must. Moreover, intense heat or high temperature will also result in your lawn going dormant since Fine Fescue is a cool-season grass. Therefore, proper winter preparation is necessary.
4.Perennial Ryegrass: requirements and maintenance
To maintain Perennial Ryegrass, you need to mow it at 1 to 2 and a half inches. Compared to other grass, it has high water and fertilizer needs. Therefore, frequent irrigation is required during low rainfall or high heat periods. It can easily recover even if it goes dormant for a short period, given that it is provided with the required moisture once that period is over. Soil pH of 5.5 to 7.5 best supports Perennial Ryegrass.
Lawn Love will assist you
If having an entire guide or calendar can still be insufficient for proper and efficient lawn care, and you may require professional help for the detailed complexities of a healthy and vibrant lawn, Lawn Love is backing you up. Contact us to hire experienced professionals. Why don't you plan a day out with your family to the Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center in your beloved city Des Plaines while we come over and maintain your lawn? Our affordable rates and quality services will not disappoint you.
