Natures Power Source

As I looked outside this morning and saw another 3 inches of snow fallen on my lawn here in Northern Indiana, I wondered, “Is this every going to end?” Of course, the answer is “yes” and believe it or not, it will be very soon. Before you know it, daylight savings time will kick in and the snow will melt, leaving your lawn to awake from winter slumber. As grass plants start to stir, so do the dandelions, crab grass and other pests; threatening your investment.

Begin setting both your budget and expectations now, so when the snow melts and flowers begin to bloom, you are set for a year.

You can also save money by getting signed up and locked up for the season with your local lawn and landscape pro.

So let’s get down to the basics and check out a plan of action.

Lawn Mowing

I can’t tell you how many lawns I have seen that could be thick, green and beautiful if they were just cut properly. Lawn mowing involves two easy to remember elements. First off, Mow every week and never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single cutting. In other words, mow tall! Secondly, sharpen the mower blade at least twice per year. A dull mower blade shreds the grass and causes it to turn brown It doesn’t really matter if you mulch or catch as long as you follow the two tips above. If you decide to call a professional lawn care service, make sure they are doing these same things as well.

Lawn Spraying Treatments

Once again, I think that about half of you guys will apply your own fertilizer and weed control products, and the other half will hire this service out. Either way, you need a plan of action. Its fairly certain that dandelions and crab grass will be a problem in 2009, but other issues like lawn disease and insects can also invade, especially if we have a super wet spring. You may need a lawn care pro to help thwart these issues, so be ready to make the call should things get out of your control.

Your Landscape

It’s a given that you will need to have your trees, shrub and bushes trimmed at some point during the year, but have you thought about fertilizing them? It’s a great idea to give your landscape ornamentals a dose of nitrogen in the spring to set them off for the year. You also may want to consider having them sprayed and treated for damaging insects and fungus that can stunt their growth and cause them to decline. Believe it or not, you have a lot of money tied up in those plants out front, so take care of them now!

These three tips may seem simple, but they are very important in the grand scheme of your outdoor paradise. Get started now so you can get the jump on the weeds, and be ready for summer picnics on the lawn!