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Ignore that Groundhog! By Carol A. Ryall Photography by Robert Patrick Image Design
Spring IS Coming!
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egardless of what the Groundhog might have said, here in the sunny South, spring will be upon us before we know it. The blossoms of Bradford Pears weaving their white lace against the blue skies, the fragrance of wisteria wafting through an open window, the velvet green of grass in the yards again are all positive, joyful experiences. After the gray and cold of winter, it is hard not to respond with a smile. If you want your yard to reflect the exuberance of spring, it takes planning, planting and work to get it there. The Grounds Guys of the Midlands, a franchise owned by Merilee and Norman Landano, is located in Batesburg but serves North Augusta, Aiken, Lexington and Columbia. They are available to help you with any or all of your landscaping needs for the spring. Norman Landano suggested that now is the time to get out and start working in the yard to get it ready for spring growth. The Grounds Guys are happy to come out and do a lawn analysis of your yard. They will make note of how much light your yard receives, what type of grass you have and check to see how healthy your lawn is, looking for signs of fungus or insect infestation. They will check the pH level and phosphate levels in your
soil. They will take soil samples and send them off to Clemson University Extension Service to learn what types of nutrients are called for. With this information, they will be able to make recommendations as to what your lawn needs to be its healthiest during the coming seasons. You can then decide how much of that you can handle on your own and how much you want to leave to the professionals. March is an excellent time to aerate your lawn, to break up the soil so that water and nutrients can get to the roots for stronger healthier grass. Especially if you ever drive cars over your lawn, that weight can compact the ground to the point that even water has a hard time getting through it. The Grounds Guys have a machine especially designed to run over the yard and loosen plugs of turf to combat
this problem. Now is also a good time to install a sprinkler or irrigation system in the lawn so that during the blistering months of summer, your yard won’t be dying of thirst. Late February is the ideal time to prune your roses and crepe myrtles back so they will branch out with beautiful new growth and blooms. March is a good time to rake out the mulch in your flower beds, spray with a pre-emergent weed killer, replace the mulch and add fresh new mulch on the top to keep your beds looking their best. Norman also suggested that, if you didn’t plant bulbs in the Fall, you can still plant them in February for Spring blooms. He stated that most shrubs can be planted now, as well. If you are putting in a new lawn, Norman recommends Zoysia grass as the best for most
conditions. It grows well in both sunny and shady spots. However, he doesn’t suggest mixing types of grass, as they need differing amounts of water and/or fertilizer. Most subdivisions are planted with Bermuda, although a good many lawns may be Centipede. Whatever you already have is what you should use to sod bare spots or fill in areas that are sparse. In today’s busy world, many people consider yard work relaxing. If you don’t happen to be one of those people, hiring The Grounds Guys is a great opportunity to have a beautiful lawn without all the labor. Their employees will be friendly, uniformed, speak English and as frequently as possible, will be military veterans. Call them today (803 657-6307 or 877 925-5296) to set up an appointment for your free lawn assessment. www.aikenwomanonline.com
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