Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Services
Lawn maintenance is the regular upkeep of your lawn, which can include seeding, laying sod, mowing grass, trimming shrubbery, maintaining flowerbeds, and providing seasonal cleanup. Companies often offer these services alongside lawn treatment or tree services.
Types of Grass
Climate isn’t the only factor to consider when selecting grasses; depending on the relative amount of shade in the yard and how the yard is used, different grass types are appropriate. Sometimes cool- and warm-season grasses are used in conjunction to ensure a yard that is green year round. Because of the additional work and cost associated, year-round green turf is relatively rare outside of commercial properties and high-end residential properties.
Warm-season grasses. Originally hailing from tropical regions, warm-season grasses are well-suited for the intense sun and heat common throughout the southern US. As the weather cools in the fall and winter, these grasses will turn brown and go dormant until warm weather returns in the spring. Common warm-season varieties include Bermuda, centipede grass, St. Augustine, and zoysia.
Cool-season grasses. Thanks to their tolerance of freezing winters and warm summers, cool-season grasses dominate the northern parts of the US, including the Northeast, the Midwest, and much of the West. Some of the most common cool-season grasses are Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and tall fescue.
Transition Zone
The Transition Zone, a band that stretches across the midsection of the country, is a region where both cool- and warm-season grasses can do well thanks to more moderate weather. Tall fescue is known for being a well-performing transition zone grass, aided by its above-average heat tolerance and drought resistance relative to other cool-season grasses.
Bushes and Trees
Bush and tree trimming depend on the specific type of bush or tree and your personal taste. Because pruning at the wrong time of year may keep a bush from blooming, make sure your lawn maintenance company customizes its pruning schedule to fit your shrub types. If you want your shrubs to look well kept, your lawn maintenance company probably needs to trim them six to eight times a year. However, be aware that over-pruning a tree or a shrub increases the opportunity for your plants to have insect and disease problems.
Flowerbeds
The key to flowerbed maintenance is to keep a significant level of mulch or another ground cover. Common types of mulch include those made from shredded bark, leaves, grass clippings, and pine straw. Mulch helps prevent weed growth and soil erosion. Because mulch decays, a lawn maintenance company typically needs to apply mulch twice a year to maintain an adequate mulch level.