Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Time-saving tips for creating a picture-perfect yard

According to a recent Gallup survey, more than 26 million households hired a "green" professional to maintain their lawns, and that number is expected to grow due to increasingly tight time schedules. On the other hand, there are still many homeowners who prefer to care for their own landscapes.

For those of you who still take pride in getting your hands dirty to maintain a beautiful lawn but are pressed for time to do it you may benefit from the following time-saving tips:

Loosen up. At the beginning of the growing season, aerate your lawn. An aeration treatment removes small cores of soil and thatch to allow air, moisture and fertilizer to penetrate down to the root zone. The cores brought to the surface contain microorganisms, which help the breakdown of woody thatch tissue. This allows the roots of existing grass plants to spread out and grow deeper, creating a healthier, thicker lawn. Ultimately this will significantly reduce the subsequent amount of time spent watering and fertilizing.

Stop weeds in their tracks. Eliminate the time-intensive, back-breaking labor of weeding by applying a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents weeds from germinating in your lawn. Products like Preen 'n Green for Lawns prevent the growth of weeds without having a negative effect on your lawn. This product also contains a powerful post-emergent herbicide to kill weeds after they have already begun to grow. It is effective against a broad variety of weeds, including hard-to-control weeds, (such as dandelion, clover, henbit, ground ivy and wild onion) because it allows weeds to absorb the herbicide through the roots as well as the leaf.

Always use a mulching mower. When you cut your grass with a mulching mower, you not only save the time of emptying bags or raking cut grass, but the clippings also provide added nutrients to your soil. The old belief was that clippings contribute to harmful thatch buildup. However, the deck and blade design of today's mulching mowers cut each blade of grass several times, producing a finely chopped clipping.

Change your watering habits. Reduce time spent watering by following a deep watering routine. Employ infrequent deep watering rather than frequent surface watering. It's best to do this in the morning or early afternoon to allow the lawn to dry before evening. Overall, the key is to try to mirror nature's normal pattern of rainy periods followed by brief dry spells. Also, since taller grass maintains moisture better, don't cut your grass as short. Finally, apply mulch around shrubs, trees and ornamentals to help keep in moisture.

Raise your mower. Another reason not to cut your grass as short is that taller grass grows slower. Slow growth translates into a lower frequency of mowing. Select a length that's short enough to be aesthetically pleasing, yet long enough to extend the time between mowing (generally 1-1/2 inches to 3 inches). Plus, longer grass has a greater surface area on which to carry out photosynthesis, which results in healthier plants.

Don't overfeed. It's important not to over fertilize your lawn. Not only will it burn your grass, but it stimulates unwanted growth (and more mowing). You can save additional work here by using combination products that provide nutrition in addition to other core benefits. Preen 'n Green for Lawns not only controls weeds but also provides a slow, controlled release of nutrients to nourish lawns for up to four months. It essentially combines the first two steps of the traditional four-step program. Only one application is needed during the growing season.

Alter your path. Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and will be less likely to develop into a set pattern. Unevenly cut grass will grow in unevenly. The poor appearance will likely drive you to mow more frequently.

For more lawn care information, call 800/233-0626 or visit www.preen.com.

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