A well-maintained lawn and landscape can significantly increase the value of your home by creating a positive first impression and enhancing its overall appearance. When your turf is properly groomed and your plants are thriving with vibrant colors and striking contrasts, they become visually appealing and eye-catching to others.  Automated systems, such as in-ground irrigation, contribute to increasing the value of a property. An in-ground irrigation system not only boosts the property's worth but also helps save on the costs associated with watering the lawn when used effectively. Addit ..read more

Soil testing is the most important lawn care task. The results from the soil test will determine what type of fertilizers with the proper nutrients are required within the soil to produce an optimal growing environment for turfgrass.  Additionally, the pH of the soil is stated in the results, which is a significant factor when trying to grow the “perfect lawn.” In early spring, soil testing samples are submitted to the local county extension agency, and forwarded to the testing university of each state for analysis.  Samples are tested in the laboratory and broken down into ..read more

When creating or maintaining your turf, a level lawn with a surface slope for surface water runoff is the desired goal.  Eliminating surface depressions and holes within your lawn is a continuous process.  Adding sand or topsoil without removing turfgrass is a cultural practice used by professional turf managers to provide athletes with a safe surface to play. Also, golf course superintendents add sand to putting greens for leveling, ball roll, and thatch management.  While correcting the surface grade by adding material, important biological activity is taking place that increa ..read more

The age-old question around every spring - is it time to fertilize my lawn? Essential nutrients are required to initiate the plant's absorption of the critical elements to grow and produce oxygen for the environment.  However, most fail to perform this easy task, determining what fertilization program will be required for a healthy start in spring.   Soil test results should be used to determine if there are any deficiencies and how much of a particular nutrient is available to the turfgrass plant.  Sure, soil temps are essential because the grass will become active and be ..read more

Developing an irrigation program for St. Augustine grass should be as precise as possible due to the sensitivity of soil moisture content in which turfgrass is growing.  St. Augustine, a turf that necessitates the appropriate amount of irrigation, becomes susceptible to diseases and other stresses in the presence of excessive water or soil saturation. Too little water and drought stress become an issue.  So, how can you determine the amount of water for your lawn?  St. Augustine will initiate growth once the temperatures increase in the spring and summer months between 80 – 100 ..read more

Crabgrass is one of the most common grassy weeds that can destroy the appearance of a great lawn.  Crabgrass can become very unsightly on closely manicured turfgrasses. There are two forms of control for crabgrass via herbicide applications, pre-emergent and post-emergent.   The Difference Between Pre-emergent and Post-emergent for Crabgrass Pre-emergent applications are made before crabgrass seed germinates in early spring. The goal is to eradicate crabgrass and not allow any seeds to germinate. Post-emergent control of crabgrasses is applied once the plant produces leaf grow ..read more

Weed control, aerating, and seeding go hand in hand in spring and fall for most regions of the United States.  Growing into spring requires the control of winter annual weeds by post-emergent treatment to start the growing season.  Pre-emergent weed control is applied in the late winter or early spring to prevent weed seed germination.  Core aeration (a cultural practice that removes a soil plug) is also performed in early spring on turfgrass and is usually performed in association with topdressing sand or topsoil.  Topdressing materials contain microorganisms that feed on ..read more

Unfortunately, too many of us are familiar with the dreadful feeling of walking outside in the morning only to see that our beautiful, green lawn has been stricken with some sort of…something. Whether it be patches of discolored grass, or an entire lawn that is brown and crunchy, it causes a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. This is especially the case if you suspect that the problem may be a result of your own doing. Fertilizer burn can be one of those self-imposed issues that can result in a rapid change in your lawn from a deep green to various shades of yellow and brown. Fortunat ..read more

Getting older is no easy feat. And the worst part is, it never stops happening. When Simple Lawn Solutions develops an age-reversing formula, we’ll let you know. But until then, we can only tout the benefits of staying on top of our mental and physical game. One of the greatest outlets that many have found for this is lawn care. DIY lawn care is a challenging and fun hobby that provides far-reaching physical, mental, and environmental benefits to those who choose to explore it.  Physical Benefits Fitness devices, like watches, have become popular in the past few years. They’ve made peop ..read more

The winter time can get boring for us outdoor lovers. The grass is a patchwork of dreary brown and green, the mulch in the landscape beds has faded, and the plants that once had beautiful summer and fall foliage have turned into leafless skeletons and shriveled masses of dead leaves. Fortunately, this lifeless period gives us a great opportunity to get our hands dirty and do some work that would be otherwise difficult when we don’t want to disturb our thriving lawn and gardens. Here are some projects that can keep you busy around your yard this winter. Improve or Install Drainage Lawns often ..read more