Blog - Kollegiate Lawn Care

Don't rake them -MULCH them....

Tis the season to be raking leaves.... or is it?

 

If you are wondering what to do with the piles of leaves covering your lawn in the fall, mulching them and returning them to the lawn offers many benefits.

Yes, mulching is 100 percent beneficial for the lawn. 

 

In a recent study mulched sugar maple leaves even appeared to inhibit broadleaf weeds such as dandelions.

 

When leaves or grass clippings are cut multiple times the finely chopped material eventually gets pushed down onto the lawn surface. There the mulched leaves are decomposed by earthworms and microorganisms and turned into plant-usable organic matter.

 

Do not mulch to the point where the leaves cover and smother the grass. The grass blades should be vertical and visible through the layer of mulched leaves.

 

Mulched leaves are an amendment to the soil, not a replacement for fertilizer.  Fertility still needs to be maintained with fertilizer applications.

 

In the spring all the mulched leaves will have disapeared and will have added much needed nutrition to your soil and grass.

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SEASONAL SPOTLIGHT

Disease:

This summer we had extended periods of extremely hot dry weather, especially over night.

 

These are ideal conditions for disease.  Lawns most affected generally have poor soil.  We continue to work at improving the soil with additives to our fertilizer program, this is a slow process and can take years to accomplish.  If your lawn is slow to recover you may want to consider aeration, a gypsum application and/or topdressing as this will speed up the process.  Contact us for pricing.

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Summer Yard Tips...

Watering:

If it does not rain, you should water a minimum of 1” or for a period of one hour

 every week.

 

Municipalities have water restrictions in place and most will allow watering one day per

week. Check our website Home Page for your watering bylaws.

 

Mowing:

When mowing during summer months, raise the mower height to the maximum. 

  • Mow your lawn as it needs it.  If the lawn is suffering from heat stress, mowing should be suspended,  especially in the afternoon, when temperatures are highest.   
  • Never remove more than one third of the grass blade at any one time and leave the clippings.   
  • Make sure your mower blade is sharp to cut the grass blade cleanly.
  • After mowing in dry weather, a light watering is recommended.  
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HOT, HOT, HOT!

According to the Weather Network the hottest week of year is coming next week.

 

Remember to water your lawn EVERY week on your waqtering day.

It will hellp to avoid root loss from drought stress and also helps to avoid insect damage.

 

Go to "Watering and Restrictions" on our Homepage to find your watering day.

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INSECTS !!! Tis the season...

Keep an eye on those lawns and be sure to water regularly.  A healthy lawn will help to keep your lawn bug free....

 

Chinchbugs:

Chinchbugs are small, with adults ranging from 1/16 – 1/4” long.  They cause damage to

the grass blade by sucking juices and injecting a poison that causes blades to turn

brown and die.  When present, you will see large distinct circular patches confined to

sunny areas of the lawn, as they thrive on dry, hot weather. 

 

Note: Should you see brown spots in your lawn or your lawn doesn’t green up after watering please contact the office and we will do a free inspection.

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Topdressing

    Spring is finally in full bloom and your lawn should be coming in nicely by now.  If your lawn is spotty from winter damage, a little soil and seed to fill the spots will help to fill the bare areas.  To help make sure your lawn has the nutition it needs to stay healthy, consider Topdressing.

Topdressing is a proven maintenance practice for lawn care.  Best results are realized when a thin layer of topdressing materilal is applied and should be done with aeration / seeding.  The Topdressing will provide organic matter to improve your soil structure.

 

Five good reasons why you should use topdressing & seeding:

  • high organic matter content
  • decreases thatch
  • improves soil structure and increases soil health
  • improves drought tolerance
  • helps suppress plant diseases and soil pests
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SPRING IS HERE!

It looks like spring is finally here!   Most of the snow is gone and we are starting to see what shape the lawns are in.   I for one am happy to put winter behind me.

 

If the snow melts in your yard but the grass is still covered in patches of white, you may have snow mold. 

 

Snow mold is a type of fungus and a turf disease that is found on the  grass after snow melts.  While its damage may appear widespread, it typically does little damage to the grass itself, only to the blades.

 

To effectively remove snow mold, gently rake the area to loosen up any matted snow mold grass so the sun and air can dry it out more quickly.

 

Active lawn care such as regular mowing and raking of leaves is typically sufficient to prevent snow Mold.

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What a great time for an Aeration!

Is your grass looking tired and thin?  Looking to give your lawn a jump start on the season?  Aeration is the key. 

Aeration is the removal of small cores of soil to allow air, moisture and fertilizer down to the root zone.  Benefits include relieving soil compaction and thatch reduction. 

All of our Program customers will receive free spot seeding with the aeration.

The plugs you see on the lawn will break down gradually and should be left on the lawn.   Call and book your Aeration now!

For more information click here:  https://www.kollegiatelawn.ca/Aeration.htm

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Approaching fast...

It may not look like it this morning but Spring is fast approaching and it's time to start thinking about the lawn again.

One of the best ways to give your lawn a healthy head start in the spring is with an Aeration.  Aerating makes it easier to have a great lawn.

Aeration is the removal of small cores of soil to allow air, moisture and fertilizer down to the root zone. Benefits include relieving soil compaction, thatch reduction and better water retention.

For more information click here:  https://www.kollegiatelawn.ca/Aeration.htm 

Contact our office to book an aeration now!

 

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