Posts By bcranshaw
Fall and Winter Lawn Care Tips
It’s that time of the year finally. Cool season grasses are now starting to look their best again, while the warm season turf is starting to slow its growth and will soon be dormant for the winter. Here are a few tips to help optimize the results from our Dallas, Ga Lawn Care treatment program.
For best results, rememeber the 1/3 rule!
Bermuda / Zoysia Grass Fall Maintenance Tips
- How should I be Mowing? I’ve noticed over the years that its been a common misconception among a some in the area that they should be scalping their warm season turf at the end of the season. This is not a good idea. For the last cut of the season you should still continue to follow the 1/3 rule and be sure not to remove to much grass off at once. Scalping the lawn before it goes dormant will potentially cause thin and damaged areas that will not recover until green up in the spring. These weakened areas of turf could be prone to weed infestations. So, Mow at a normal height and try not to scalp the lawn over the fall or winter months.
- Should I continue to water? I recommend continuing to water the lawn atleast 1 inch per week in absence of rain even through the cool season, or atleast up until the point where you will have to winterize your irrigation system. Thankfully we normally get plenty of rain through the late fall and winter months here in Dallas, Ga.
- Weed Control – Fall is the ideal time to apply a Pre-emergent weed control to prevent many of the problem weeds that can invade your lawn during the late winter and early spring months. Our round #6 and #7 pre-emergent treatments are vital parts of our Dallas, Ga Lawn Care Program that will ensure that weeds are minimized over the cool season.
Fescue Grass Fall / Winter Maintenance Tips
Fescue Lawn Care Dallas, Ga
- Aeration and Overseeding? If you haven’t aerated and overseeded your fescue lawn then you should think about doing it soon. There is only a small window of time to do this. Its recommened to get the seed out 3 weeks or so before the first frost for best possible results. Late August through first week in October would be the ideal time for Aeration and Overseeding of your fescue lawn in Dallas, Ga. Though, the sooner the better so don’t delay.
- How should I be mowing? Fescue should be cut at 3″ to 3.5 inches with a sharp blade. During the cool season you can get away with cutting a little shorter than this if you prefer a tighter looking cut lawn. Always remember the 1/3 rule. It is best to never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one mowing. This will ensure a much healthier lawn that is resistant to weeds.
- Weed Control – A post emergent weed control should be applied as needed for any weed issues but no pre-emergent is necessary on fescue during this time as it most definitely would hinder any seeding efforts.
- Winter Tip Burn Its fairly common to see yellow on the tips of fescue during hard freeze or frost. This will grow out when the lawn starts growing again and the lawn is mowed. During frosts be sure to limit foot traffic as walking across a fescue lawn with frost in the early morning can potentially damage the lawn in the places walked on.
If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn and the maintenance practices over the fall and winter months please feel free to give me a call. If your not already on our 7 step Dallas, Ga Lawn Care Program then feel free to get in touch for a free estimate and lawn evaluation. Its never to late or early to start to think about improving your lawn!
Fescue Aeration and Overseeding
If you have Fescue Grass then you may or may not know that Fall is an ideal time of year to Aerate and Overseed your fescue lawn to repair damaged areas from the stress of the summer. Fescue grass is one of the more easier turf types to establish from seed which does quite well in partially shaded areas where warm season turf may not do so well. Fescue seed will germinate when the soil temperatures are between 50 and 65 degrees, which means the air temperatures should roughly be between 60 and 75 degrees. This is why fall is an ideal time to preform the fescue aeration and overseeding service.
Prepping Your Lawn for Aeration and Overseeding
Fescue Seed will tend to germinate within a time frame of 10 to 14 days when properly planted and cared for. There are a few steps you should take before the aeration process is performed…
1. Mowing – It is recommended that you mow your lawn a little shorter than normal. This will help ensure that the aeration and seeding is more effective, as well as buy you some time on having to mow the grass before the new seed comes up.
2. Remove Leaves and Any debris
3. Mark Sprinkler Heads – If you have an automatic sprinkler system than it is imperative that you clearly mark any of your sprinkler heads before your lawn is aerated. This will prevent any damage to your sprinkler heads that could be caused by aeration equipment.
3. Water the Lawn – It is extremely important to thoroughly water the lawn for a few days before the aeration and overseeding is performed on your lawn. Softening the ground with a thorough watering will ensure good plugs are pulled and will give optimal chance for good seed to soil contact.
Core Aeration Vs. Spike Aeration
Aeration is one of the first steps in the process. Using the right equipment to get the job does is important to optimize results from Aeration and overseeding. Core aeration is the preferred method. Spike type of aerators are not recommended because they just push the soil down and can cause more compaction. A good core aeration is the way to go to break up soil compaction and improve water and airflow. Sharplawns Turf Care, LLC uses state of the art well maintained core aerators to get the job done properly.
Which Seed should i use
You want to go with a certified and tested seed blend that has good disease and drought resistance. Sharplawns Turf Care uses a blue tag certified and tested triple blend turf type tall fescue seed that does excellent in partially shaded areas.
Straw or No Straw?
Wheat can be used sparingly in bare areas that may be prone to dry out quicker. This can help hold in moisture better. However, keep in mind that wheat straw will tend to germinate later on along with the fescue and become more of a “weed” problem in your new lawn.
Watering to maximize germination
Proper watering is important for best germination results. We recommend watering the lawn twice a day for the first 10 to 14 days for best results. You want to keep the seed bed damp by lightly watering 2 times per day. Avoid drenching or overwatering. To much water on your new seed can cause the seed to rot and to little water and the seed can dry out. Once most of the seed has germinated you can then cut back on your watering to a more normal watering schedule, you should expect to get to that point in 3 to 4 weeks.
Mowing your New Lawn
Your new grass is ready to mow when it reaches about 4 inches. You want to be sure to not mow when the lawn is wet. Its a good idea to bag the lawn each cut until the grass has matured. Clippings mulched back on the lawn could potentially damage your new lawn so use caution when mowing.
Dallisgrass Identification and Control
Clumps of Dallisgrass in a Bermuda Lawn
Dallisgrass is a difficult to control weed in dallas, ga. This difficult to control weed will germinate in the spring and summer months, and go dormant in the winter months. Dallisgrass thrives in clay and sandy soil and is a rather low growing weed that will tend to grow quicker than other types of grasses. Dallisgrass grows in clumps and is alot of times mistaken for crabgrass. While pre-emergents may be somewhat helpful to controlling dallisgrass they usually aren’t very effective in lawns that have had dallisgrass already, as well as other problems with this weed in the past due to the amount of seedheads that a plant can produce. Fall is a good time to use a post emergent on dallisgrass to help reduce and supress this difficult to control weed. Most importantly, keeping a healthy, well maintained lawn that is thick will help resist this weed. With smaller infestations it is best to pull out the weed being sure to remove all of the root and letting the turf fill back in naturally. If your in need of a solution for dallisgrass control then feel free to give us a call to get on our lawn care program in Dallas, GA.
Prevent Winter Weeds Now!
Preventing weeds is one of the most important steps of our lawn care program in Dallas, Ga. As fall approaches, so does the ideal soil temperatures for Poa Annua germination. Poa Annua is the main weed we target with our fall pre-emergent apps. Its much easier to prevent this troublesome weed than it is to kill it once it germinates. In addition to preventing Poa Annua our fall treatments will help control existing weeds that may be present as well as many other broadleaf weeds that like to germinate during the cool season, such as henbit and chickweed. If your in need of a local service to get these important applications down for you this fall and winter or if your just in need of a lawn evaluation then please give us a call. 678.497.5093
Common Summer Weeds in Dallas Ga
With the lack of rain the grass and most plants will tend to slow growth. However, there are still some weeds that will favor these hot dry conditions. I just wanted to take some time to Identify some of the common weeds that you will see in the summer months in Dallas, Ga
Spotted Spurge – As seen in the picture below, spotted spurge grows low to the ground and tends to spread and form in mats. Its favors the dry hot weather and its something you may see along the edges of the lawn at this time of year. It will tend to grow in areas of weakened or thin turf.
Spotted Spurge
Virginia Buttonweed– As pictured below, another low growing weed that is common to see at this time of year. This is a tough to control weed and generally will take multiple treatments to get under control. Pre-emergents do not have much effect on preventing this weed, so post emergent control is needed.
Virginia Buttonweed
When it comes to lawn care and weed control in Dallas, Ga Proper cultural practices such as mowing and watering are key to keeping the lawn thick and healthy to resist these difficult to control weeds. We recommend mowing the lawn weekly throughout the growing season so you aren’t taking off to much grass at each mowing and watering atleast 1 inch per week to get the best results from our lawn care program.
Annual Bluegrass (Poa Annua)
If you did not have a Pre-Emergent applied in the Fall Months you may be seeing a little bit of green stuff in your lawn at this time. More than likely it is a winter annual weed called Poa-Annua. This is an annual grass that grows in clumps, looks similar to a fine fescue and when it gets taller it will produce white seed heads. This is a very difficult weed to control once it emerges, and is best controlled by a Pre-Emergent as well as good lawn maintenance practices. Poa Annua will first start to germinate closer to the house and under trees and areas of the lawn with weak stands of turf. The good news about Poa Annua is that it will die off on its own with the Georgia heat. The bad news though… It is very tough to control with selective post emergent products. 
Pre-Emergent applications are a very important part of our Dallas, Ga Lawn Care treatment program. We typically start the fall pre-emergents in late august to early September. Pre-Emergents can give a good bit of control of this difficult to control weed and many other broadleaf type of weeds.. However, good maintenance practices and keeping the lawn healthy can help maximize the results. We recommend a well balanced fertilization and weed control program throughout the year to keep the lawn thick to help resist weeds. Good mowing and watering practices are also important. We recommend mowing the lawn atleast once per week during the active growing season as so you are not taking more than 1/3 of the grass blade off at one time, and keep the lawn watered with atleast 1 inch of water per week. Scalping to short at the end of the year can hinder the results of a Pre-emergent, because the grass will not recover from a scalping at the end of the season when the grass is not actively growing. Mowing to much off at one time can create a weak stand of turf that is more susceptible to weed problems (even if you’ve had a pre-emergent).
If you are tired of seeing weeds and ready to hire a professional Dallas GA lawn Care Service than we hope you would give us a call! Sharplawns Turf Care, LLC – Lawn Care Dallas Ga (678)497-5093
Tree and Shrub Care Dallas, Ga
Tree and Shrub Care is an often overlooked aspect of the landscape. What good is a nice looking lawn if the shrubs and landscape is in poor condition? In addition to our lawn care treatment program in dallas, Ga we also offer a 7 application Tree and Shrub program to keep your ornamental landscape plants healthy and growing throughout the year. Our 7 application program includes a Spring and Fall Fertilization, Insect and disease control treatments during the summer and dormant oil treatment over the winter months to take out overwintering insects.
Fertilization and Weed Control Service in Dallas, Ga (Getting to know Sharplawns Turf Care)
I know that there are lots of options out there these days when selecting a lawn care Fertilization and Weed Control service in Dallas, Ga and I’d like to take a moment to point out why you should consider giving Sharplawns Turf Care a try to handle your lawns Fertilization and Weed Control needs.
Experienced
I began my career in the lawn care industry working for a larger lawn care service back in 1995. After 10 years of working for a larger corporate type of company I started Sharplawns in 2005. Seeing how little the larger companies out there seemed to value their customers and employees I set out with a goal to build a small locally owned company that was focused on Honesty, building good customer relationships and providing exceptional customer service and good results.
Locally Owned and Operated
Sharplawns is a locally owned and operated fertilization and weed control service located in Dallas, Ga (Actually on the Cobb/Bartow line right near acworth). We operate in a smaller radius to include not only just the dallas area, we also service Acworth, Kennesaw, Hiram and Woodstock. Operating in this smaller radius helps us to provide a better service for our customers.
Attention to Detail / Using Superior Products
We go out of our way to do the best job possible on each lawn we take on. We make it a point to use the best products out there on the market today to achieve the best possible results. If there is something not working you simply just let me know and we will return and address and fix the issue at no extra charge if it is something covered under are standard 7 application lawn care program.
Friendly and Professional
We are a small service and operate in a professional manner. We offer online account access to each customer so you can manage and pay your invoices online. We use state of the art technology and equipment to make sure the products are put down properly at the correct rates and correct time of year. We are very easy to work with and offer a friendly and professional level of service.
Fall & Winter Lawn Care Dallas, Ga
The fall weather is now upon us, and the winter weather will be here before we know it.. While its about time to put up the lawn mowers for the season, there are still important lawn treatments needed for the lawn at this time to protect the root system and prevent further weed problems in the spring.
If you have been struggling with weeds, thin spots and bare areas in your lawn out in the Dallas, GA then i highly encourage you to give us a call this fall or winter for a free no obligation estimate. Let us show you how Sharplawns can make a difference with your Lawn Care in Dallas, GA this spring!
Did you know that Our fall and winter treatments are the most important part or our lawn care treatment program in Dallas, Ga? The fall and winter treatments are where we prevent alot of the more difficult to control weeds
such as Poa-Annua, Henbit, and Chickweed. We also add a root zone potassium based fertilizer to keep the root system strong during the winter months. We typically end our treatment program in November, and generally will be back out mid January to early February to start the round #1 crabgrass prevention treatments. So as you can see, while the grass may not be growing there are still important steps that we take in the off season to make sure your lawn has the best chance to thrive come spring green up.
Weed ID – Spotted Spurge
Spotted spurge is a difficult to control Summer Annual weed that is common to see in the Dallas, GA area. Spurge grows close to the ground and can form dense mats if left uncontrolled. Spurge tends to take off in hot, dry conditions, and will be noticeable in open areas, in bare or stressed areas of turf and can even grow in sidewalk cracks.
Spotted spurge prevention should be an important part of any lawn care program in dallas, Ga. Spring pre-emergents can be helpful, however late in the season when the pre-emergent starts to break down is where spurge can start to be a problem. Post-Emergent control is effective on young spurge in its early stages, but can be more of a challenge to control in its mature stage.
Keeping the lawn thick and healthy is good way to keep spotted spurge down to minimum. Spotted Spurge requires sunlight to germinate, so a thick healthy lawn will tend to not see much of this difficult to control weeds. Scalping of the lawn, or removing to much grass at each mowing will thin out areas of the lawn and spurge outbreaks can be more common in these stressed areas. We recommend keeping the lawn mowed atleast weekly during the growing season and be sure to not remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade per mowing.
If spotted spurge is a problem in your yard, feel free to give Sharplawns Turf Care a call and we can evaluate and setup a lawn care program to help minimize and/or eliminate this difficult to control nuisance weed from your lawn in Dallas, Ga
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