Despite having a population of fewer than 7,000 people, Parkville has something for everyone. Notably, it's the ideal destination for meditators and those who love outdoor recreation. From English Landing Park along River Missouri to the famous Park University, there are many beautiful lawns in Parkville where one can sit and relax. What most people don't know is that maintaining the beauty of these lawn takes more than just mowing. If you have grown a lawn in Parkville, below are tips to keep it beautiful and healthy all year round.
Watering the lawn
For the grass to stay healthy, the root zone has to be sufficiently moisturized. This means watering the lawn when it's not raining. If the grass starts changing color or curling its blades, that is an indication that the root zone is dehydrated. You should water the top inch of the soil once or twice a week. Roots normally grow towards the direction of moisture; if you don't water the lawn deeply, the grass will grow shallow roots thus becoming loose. Water the lawn in the morning hours; this will give the water enough time to penetrate the ground as the rate of evaporation during that time is low.
Feed the lawn
Grass and microbes feed on the lawn food you add to the soil, and the nutrients get depleted after about eight weeks. It is, therefore, necessary to add fertilizer to the lawn about four times in a year. When the soil has enough nutrients, the lawn will grow dense and strong. Dense lawns can withstand high foot traffic. Also, thick grass prevents sprouting of weeds. Water the lawn 1-2 days before applying fertilizer; hydrated soil absorbs fertilizer faster. When applying fertilizer, make sure you are using the right spreader settings. Commercial lawn feeds usually have recommended spreader settings on the packs. Read the recommended settings and adjust your spreader accordingly.
Removing and Preventing weeds
Weeds like chicory, bindweed, dandelion, and creeping bellflower are perennial in Parkville, MO, and they might be the biggest obstacle in your efforts to maintain the health of your lawn. Most weeds have deeper roots than grass, giving them an advantage in the competition for moisture and nutrients. If the lawn has a few weeds, you can hand-pull them. For dominant weeds, you have to use a weed control herbicide.
Eliminating weeds from a lawn is not easy, so the best thing is to prevent them. One way of preventing weeds is having a dense loan; when the loan is thick, weeds cannot sprout as they have no access to sunlight. You can make your lawn dense by adding lawn food regularly and reseeding bare spots. Other ways of preventing weeds are watering the lawn deep and mowing it high.
Dethatching the lawn
Over time, a layer of dead matter will form between the soil surface and the grass blades. This layer might prevent water and oxygen from getting to the roots and encourage pest and diseases. Removing this layer is called dethatching. You should dethatch your lawn at least once a year or when the thatch is thick enough. Check the thickness of the thatch regularly by working your fingers into the grass. For homestead lawns, you can remove the thatch using a dethatching rake. For big lawns such as playing fields, hire a dethatching machine.
Aerating the lawn
There are different types of soil in Parkville, MO. Alluvial soils are the dominant type on the flood plain of River Missouri. In other areas, the most common soil type is Menfro. Over time, these soils may become compact due to alternate hydration and dehydration. Foot traffic on the lawn also makes the soil below compact. Compact soil hinders even distribution of oxygen, moisture, and nutrients in the root zone.
Aeration is the process of punching holes into the lawn to loosen the soil. Small lawns can be aerated using a sharp hand tool. For large lawns, using a gas-powered aerator will save you time and energy. Aerate your lawn at least once a year; if the lawn contains warm-season grasses such as centipedegrass and bermudagrass, aerate it in spring. For lawns with cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, do it in fall.
Professional lawn care in Parkville, MO
For lawns to maintain their health and appeal, they require attention. At Lawn Love, we know job or business activities may take much of your time, leaving little time for your lawn. We can handle all lawn care tasks for you as you focus on other things. Our pricing is flexible, and we offer free lawn evaluation. Try us today!
