SPECIAL REPORT
by Bryan Ostlund
How to Get Customers’ Lawns in Tip-Top Shape For Spring
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s winter fades away, property owners are eager to get their natural turf lawns revitalized and in top form for warmer months ahead. Whether surrounding a home or a business, a well-maintained and lush lawn sets the tone and makes a critical first impression. If winter weather GEORGE has taken its toll WASHINGTON on natural turf, IS CREDITED some extra care WITH GROWING may be required to help it recover THE FIRST quickly. Consider LAWN IN THE UNITED STATES, adding some nearAT HIS ESTATE term actionable steps to a spring IN MOUNT lawn care package VERNON. for new clients, or upsell existing clients beyond a month-tomonth maintenance plan.
get it under ivstiv / E+ / Getty Images control. First, consider whether enough sunlight is reaching the turf and suggest where trees can be thinned or pruned to allow more light through. Then, determine whether moss has found a foothold in thatch, and if so, dethatch to give turf a better chance to thrive. Next, test soil samples to learn of any pH imbalances or nutrient deficiencies. Some amendments may be needed in the soil to create more favorable conditions for turfgrass — and a more hostile environment for moss in the process. Finally, once the Assess and Address Moss soil is prepped, reseed bare patches As the growing season for turfgrass to achieve even cover. Conduct winds down, the growing season for spring revitalization services moss takes off. From fall until early Consider providing spring, conditions that clients with a spring walkmay weaken grass and THE FRONT LAWNS through of their lawn’s create bare patches — OF 8 AVERAGEconditions, offering to such as less sunlight, SIZE HOMES remedy any issues from more shade, poor irriHAVE THE SAME a suite of spring revigation, fewer nutrients, talization services. For high acidity and increasCOOLING EFFECT ing thatch — set the AS 20 HOMES WITH instance, during winter months, thatch can build right foundation for CENTRAL AIRup beyond the recommoss to take hold. CONDITIONING. mended thickness of A dense and healthy about half an inch. As lawn is the best defense organic matter builds and becomes against moss, but if moss is present, compacted, it can lead to problems some steps in early spring can help
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beyond moss, such as pests, fungal growth and root rot. Depending on the size of the lawn and the area impacted, dethatching may be handled most efficiently with a lawn dethatcher or power rake. If the problem is minimal, then some
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