Columbus lawn care services
Columbus lawn care
There's a saying in Columbus, OH; "if you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change." Residents of Columbus are lucky to experience all four seasons in vibrant glory throughout the year. However, the drastic changes and unpredictable nature of this region's climate can make it difficult to maintain a thriving, beautiful lawn.
Best grass types for Columbus
Perennial Ryegrass is a great choice for cool weather environments. The blades of this grass have a fine texture with a dark green color that stays quite lush. It isn't completely resistant to cold and disease but it is enough so that it will survive in Columbus. Perennial Ryegrass should be mowed to about two and a half inches once a week.
Tall Fescue grass grows well in the cold and also can thrive in extreme heat, even in full sunlight. Tall Fescue is drought-resistant and will survive a long, hot, dry summer weather. It should be mowed to between three and three and a half inches and should be mowed at least once a week.
Kentucky Bluegrass can thrive in cool weather climates. This grass prefers a bright, sunny with minimal shade. Kentucky Bluegrass also does well against the threat of insects and even disease. The grass should be mowed no lower than two and a half inches high and should also be mowed about once a week.
Buffalograss is fairly uncommon but is a very versatile grass. Buffalograss doesn't require much attention and is very durable. It can even bounce back fast from damage as it is not very sensitive and can manage high foot traffic. Buffalograss should be mowed to a height between two and a half and three and a half inches.
Columbus seasons
Spring can be tricky for Columbus lawn care, because of the uncertainty of the weather. If you start a maintenance routine too soon, then you could disturb new grass growth, however, if you wait too long, then you'll pass prime time for lawn needs. The first thing to do when the weather starts to warm up is rake! Thatch is a barrier of dead plants that may have built up and blocks out air, moisture, and light. Raking and disturbing that layer of debris will help your lawn grow. You should also aerate your lawn depending on how compacted your soil might have become over winter. When using fertilizer in the spring, you should fertilize more lightly than in fall, because of tender new shoots.
Summer in Columbus means high temperatures and humidity. Temperatures average in the 90's and can reach the 100's. However, it's not uncommon for summer days to be cool as well. It's important to maintain your lawn routine and adjust to whatever the summer months bring. We recommend leaving your grass a bit longer in the summer, as longer grass can better retain moisture, and grow deeper roots. You should be mowing less often when it's hot and dry, as grass doesn't grow as fast when it's stressed by heat and lack of water. For fertilizing we have two different suggestions. First, in the early months of summer, you should apply a fertilizer that adds iron to improve color and that adds protection against broadleaf weeds. Then, in late summer, apply a fertilizer with broadleaf control as needed to maintain your lawn's color and sustain weed control. Something to be concerned with during summer is crabgrass. Crabgrass appears in May and grows in full sun. It can be prevented with a pre-emergent herbicide.
You should consider fall as the best time to prep your lawn for winter. However, fall in Columbus can be wet or dry, so it can be difficult to develop a routine. The first thing you should do when the weather starts cooling down is aerate your lawn. The hot summer probably baked your lawn and your soil and it is more than likely compacted and not allowing air, moisture, and nutrients to flow freely. You should also continue with an ongoing fertilization process. Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescues, should receive two applications of fertilizer in the fall, one in September and one later on towards the end of the season. During fall, the blades of grass slow down in terms of growth, but the root system continues to develop. Yout grass may have gone dormant and browned over summer, but when temperatures begin to cool, start watering and mowing again! Your lawn still needs around an inch of water a week. If your lawn developed bald spots over summer, overseed it two to four weeks before the first frost, in Columbus, that date falls between October 11th and October 20th. Also, during fall a lot of things tend to fall on your lawn. It's very important to keep your lawn free of debris such as leaves, nuts, sticks, or anything else that can sit on your lawn and mat down. If not removed, this will be an ideal place for disease to grow. In regards to clearing debris, you might also want to consider Columbus gutter cleaning to prevent clogged gutters that may drop down to your lawn.
Winters in Columbus can be brutal. As the ground hardens, you need to ensure that your grass is properly fertilized. Before the first freeze of winter, thoroughly fertilize your lawn to replace nutrients that may have been lost. Once the weather turns cold, the fertilizer will remain in the soil and feed your lawn's roots all winter long. You might want to consider a Columbus snow removal service to keep your lawn free of heavy snow.
Professional Columbus lawn care
With the vast variations of weather in Columbus, it can be quite overwhelming and even difficult to give your lawn the proper care it needs. You may be considering the services of a lawn care professional to help alleviate the stress. By booking lawn care service through Lawn Love, you can get all of the help that you need when you need it. We make it easy for you to take care of your yard throughout the year. Lawn Love pros can tackle all of your lawn care needs. Lawn Love takes the stress out of scheduling lawn service, and we can free up many hours of your time.
Commonly asked questions
Are there any watering restrictions in Columbus?
While there are no watering restrictions in Columbus when temperatures and precipitation are in their normal range, you will see a call to action during periods of drought.
What are the landscaping standards?
Front yard landscaping: The lot area between a required building line and a street line shall be landscaped and shall not be paved except for paved areas approved by the city. Tree requirement on residential property: The purpose of the tree requirement is to reestablish plant cover over the built environment, reduce topsoil erosion and stormwater runoff, mitigate the effects of sun and wind, offset carbon emissions, moderate temperatures, and conserve energy resources.
On a residentially zoned lot, a minimum of one tree, subject to minimum size requirements in General Landscaping Standards, is required on-lot for every ten dwelling units or fraction thereof. No other code-required trees may satisfy this requirement. A minimum of one tree is required on each lot containing one to ten dwelling units, a minimum of two trees are required on each lot containing 11 to 20 dwelling units, and so on.
What is the minimum sizing for plants/trees?
Minimum size: When used to meet a required landscaping or screening provision, plants shall have a minimum size at the time of planting as follows: Two-inch caliper for a deciduous tree; One-and-one-half-inch caliper for an ornamental tree; Four-foot height for a conifer or evergreen tree; Two-foot height for a shrub, and; Number 2 size container for ornamental grasses.
What is the height limit for fences?
Fences, with or without masonry piers, shall be constructed of metal tubes or solid metal bars. Fences shall not exceed a height of four feet. Chain-link fences are prohibited. Walls shall not exceed a height of four feet. Masonry or stone walls are recommended for screening, sitting, or for use as independent architectural elements.
