MOWING - Around mid-March, our crews are out starting Spring Clean-ups (weather permitting).  These clean-ups take away the majority of the winter debris left on the lawn and in the shrub beds over the off months.  Before long, the grass will start growing FAST!  One thing that is important to remember is the one-third rule:  NEVER remove more than one-third of the blade.  That blade is like an antenna.  The longer it is (between 3 -   3 1/2 inches) the more sunlight it receives to feed the roots (during the short, Spring day, it needs all the sun it can get!).  Especially in this time of year, do not hack it down like a golf green.  It is not healthy for the lawn and in the summer time, when it's dry and hot, you run the risk of burning your lawn!

LANDSCAPING - The trucks and tractors are being readied.  The shrubs are being ordered.  Before long, we'll be out hitting the pavement.  The waiting list is growing.  So, if you have an idea for your home, call now for a free estimate.  We'll be happy to make your home look like a well maintained estate!

SPRING SEEDING - Second best to Fall seeding

We use the best fertilizer, lime, topsoil, and seed mixes available to establish a high quality lawn for you.  However, there are some factors that make establishing a lawn in the spring and early summer difficult.  Weeds, Crabgrass, and Nutsedge are some of the biggest problems.  Below, we explain these problems along with some of the needs that a new lawn requires.

BROADLEAF WEEDS

The most common problem in a new lawn are weeds.  Most weeds germinate in the spring so they can complete their life cycle during one growing season.  Most weeds do not germinate in the fall as there is not enough time for them to reach maturity before a killing frost.  We do everything we can to eliminate weed seeds in our grass seed mixes, topsoil, and mulch material.  However, most soil has thousands of weed seeds that will be brought to the surface and germinate when we work up the soil.  When we plant grass seed in the spring, weeds will germinate in your lawn at the same time.  Weeds can be controlled in a new seeded area, but they cannot be sprayed until the seedlings have grown enough to be mowed 4-5 times.  The new grass will be mature enough then to withstand the weed control.  However, after applying weed control, the new lawn cannot be reseeded for 6-8 weeks as the weed control will kill any newly germinating grass seed.  Weed control is not included with the quoted lawn installation price.  We will quote you a price if necessary.

CRABGRASS

Crabgrass is a weed grass found in almost all soil that also germinates in the spring and dies with the first frost.  In any lawn installation, crabgrass may occur.  The only way to control crabgrass is to apply a pre-emergent herbicide that kills the crabgrass seeds as they germinate.  However, these herbicides will kill any good grass seed also.  We have no way of controlling crabgrass in a spring seeded lawn so the best way to prevent crabgrass problems is to seed in the fall when crabgrass does not germinate.  However, we recommend that any new lawn have an application of crabgrass control the following spring to kill any crabgrass seeds waiting to germinate.  No reseeding can be done for 3-4 months after a crabgrass application.  If you want to control crabgrass, we can quote you a price to apply it in the spring.

NUTSEDGE

Yellow Nutsedge is one of the hardest weeds to control.  Regular weed control has no effect on Nutsedge.  There are a few specialized products that work but it takes a number of applications, does not gaurantee 100% control, and may turn the turf grass off color for a period of time.  While Nutsedge is not in all soils, some local areas do have severe infestations.  The most troubling aspect of Nutsedge is it does not appear above ground before Mid-June.  It is a perennial that lives underground and spreads by an extensive root system.  If we install a new lawn before Mid-June, we have no way of identifying that a Nutsedge problem exists.  In a fall seeded lawn, we can see the Nutsedge and recommend treatment options to you before we seed your lawn.

FERTILIZER

New grass plants grow very quickly and demand a lot of fertilizer.  Our starter fertilizer that we apply at the time of seeding lasts for about 6 weeks.  To keep your grass green and growing to fill in all lawn areas, we recommend additional applications of fertilizer.  This can be your responsibility or you can ask Tuma Lawn Service and Landscaping, Inc. to quote you a price to feed your lawn.

WATER

Grass seed must be watered adequately for the seed to germinate and continue to grow and fill in all the lawn areas (yes, even in spring).  Watering is the home owners responsibility.  We will provide you with advice and information on watering properly.

TIME

Please remember that a new lawn takes time to grow and develop into a dense stand of turf grass.  All commercially grown sod starts by seed.  It takes 18-20 months from the time of seeding till the sod is thick enough to be harvested.  Your lawn will need that amount of time also before it is thick and full.  In that time, it needs to be fed, watered, and kept weed free.  Spring seeding takes a bit longer because the ground is still starting to warm up.

As we have explained, some problems we can deal with, other problems may take time and patience to solve.  With your understanding of these problems, we can work together to reach our goal:  A thick green stand of turf grass in your lawn.