Boston lawn care services
Boston enjoys moderate weather. It has been described as having a Goldilocks' atmosphere, which means that the temperatures are neither extremely hot nor too cold. For homeowners in the region, the temperate conditions make lawn care quite manageable. However, having a beautiful lawn in Boston still calls for diligence and dedication. If you want to become better at Boston lawn care, then this article is just the comprehensive guide you need.
Grass types in Boston
Perennial Ryegrass is a cool-season grass that is one of the best for your Boston yard. It has an unrivaled ability to withstand cold weather, which is excellent since Boston winters can be long and harsh. The grass requires a lot of water, and will not thrive in hot areas. The sod prefers shady areas, so if your yard has a lot of trees, then this turf is ideal for you. The perfect mowing height for this grass type is between one and a half to two and a half inches. Avoid cutting it any shorter as you may damage your lawn.
Kentucky Bluegrass is a staple in many Boston lawns. There is a lot to love about this sod. First, it has a lovely light green color, and provides you with a luscious green yard. Other than its dense turf, the sod also does well in low temperatures, which are quite common in Boston. The grass requires frequent watering, and you will need to fertilize it regularly as well. It prefers sunny gardens without any shade and does not do well in hot weather.
Creeping Bentgrass is another common grass in Boston. It is a cold season grass that does well even in shady areas. It produces a dense turf with a matted appearance. Thanks to its thick growth, the grass variety can tolerate heavy winters remarkably well. This grass also requires minimal maintenance. It does not grow too fast, and you can mow it to a low height of half an inch. That way, you will not have to get the mower out as often as you would with other grass types.
Another low-maintenance turf that is popular with homeowners in Massachusetts is the Fine Leaf Fescue sod. It does well in shady areas as well as sunny ones. It can also tolerate winters well. However, heavy traffic will utterly destroy the grass, so have this in mind before you select it. Fine leaf Fescue is also extremely resilient and can bounce back from prolonged droughts with fantastic ease. Chemicals can easily damage it, so be careful when applying any herbicides or pesticides on the grass.
Plants that are native in Boston
The weed in Joe-Pye weed's name is a misnomer since this is a beloved plant by many Boston homeowners. There are two main types of plants. If you want a shady lawn, you may prefer the Gateway variety that grows up to seven feet high. The Little Joe variety grows only to about 4 feet. In the late summer, its flowers bloom to a demure dusty pink color. The flowers also attract butterflies and other pollinators by the hordes in the late summer.
If you are looking to add a lot of colors in your garden, then Columbine is just the shrub for you. In the summer, the plant's flowers bloom into bright orange and red blossoms. The bush also has lovely, dense blue-green foliage that makes it all the more attractive. Additionally, the plant attracts small birds and insects by the multitudes.
The Foam Flower is an excellent addition to any yard. What with its beautiful white flowers and toothed leaves? Some varieties of the plant have leaves with red markings. The plant is quite aggressive and spreads quickly when in full bloom.
Boston lawn care tips
If you are having trouble getting the grass to grow or spread in your lawn, the soil might be to blame. Most turfs do not do well in acidic soils. Fortunately, this is a problem that can easily be solved. Start by submitting a soil sample for testing in a laboratory. If you find that your soil is acidic, all you need to do is apply some calcium-rich lime, and the soil acidity levels will plummet. Simple, don't you agree?
You also need to aerate the soil regularly for your grass to thrive. Aerating makes the earth spongy, which means that it can better retain nutrients and water. These are essential for grass growth. To aerate, you can use spike aerators that you attach to regular shoes and walk through your garden. Alternatively, you can also use a gas-driven core aerator for more long-lasting results.
Make it a habit to fertilize your lawn regularly. If you are opposed to the use of chemicals in your garden, you can choose from a wide variety of organic fertilizers. From compost to manure, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to natural alternatives. Fertilizing is essential as it provides your sod with crucial minerals and nutrients, as well as microorganisms that enrich the soil further.
Professional Boston lawn care services
Boston lawn care can be backbreaking work. If you don't want to spend your weekend pushing a mower or applying herbicides to your turf, you can simply leave the work to a professional Boston yard service company. The professionals can also provide other Boston lawn service, such as Boston snow removal, Boston leaf removal, and Boston gutter cleaning. Since the professionals are experts in yard care, they will know what to do to revive a dying lawn and to promote maximum growth in your yard. Finally, professional Boston lawn service may end up being cheaper in the long run. This is because you won't need to invest in expensive Boston gardening equipment and resources.
If you are planting a lawn in Boston, some of the best grass types to use are Kentucky Bluegrass, Bentgrass, Fescue, and Ryegrass. You can even blend different varieties to have a diverse, resilient, and beautiful yard. To spruce up your garden more, add some shrubs like the Foam Flower plant and Columbine. Don't forget to stay on top of Boston gardening and Boston snow removal. If you find that Boston yard service and Boston gutter cleaning is too much work for you, don't hesitate to get professional help. It will make your life much more comfortable.
Commonly asked questions
Are there any watering restrictions for Boston?
Boston and many other cities currently have mandatory watering restrictions. Water suppliers utilize emergency restrictions or bans on non-essential water use to reduce water consumption by their consumers. These restrictions vary by water system or community, but often include: Limitations on the hours of the day you may water. Limitations on the number of days per week you may water. Restrictions to automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems. A complete ban on outdoor watering.
Where can I dispose of yard debris?
Leaf and yard waste is collected in the fall and spring, then composted. Place yard waste on the curb by 7am on your recycling day during yard waste collection weeks. Leaf and yard waste is
not collected during the two weeks before the special pickup begins.
How large can yard abuts be?
In S and R districts every yard required by this code, and in H districts every yard so required except rear yards and except also side yards not abutting a street line, shall, along every lot line on which such yard abuts, be at a level no higher than grade level or, if the grade level of the abutting lot is higher be at a level no higher than such higher level. Rear yards in H districts and also side yards in such districts not abutting a street line shall, along every lot line on which they are about, be at a level no higher than five feet above grade level.
What is the height limit for fences?
Any off-street parking facility or lot, off-street loading area, or accessory storage area that abuts a public street, public park, a Residential Subdistrict or Residential Use, shall be screened from view. Such screening shall consist of trees and shrubs densely planted in a strip at least five feet wide on the inside edge of a steel-picket or stockade or board-type wooden fence. Such fence shall not be more than fifty percent opaque and shall be no less than three feet and no more than four feet high. The planting strip shall be separated from any parking area by a curb six inches in height.
Any material or equipment stored outdoors to a height greater than four feet above Grade shall be surrounded by a wall or fence or vegetative screen of such height, not less than six feet high, as may be necessary to screen such material or equipment from view from any public street or public open space.
