Lawn Care Blog

Lawn-care season is just about in full swing in Maryland by now, and if you haven’t already made lawn mowing part of your busy schedule, make room before the grass is knee-high. Lawns across Harford County are looking green and manicured, and lawn care services are roaring to life throughout the area. Once a week grass cutting is about the most common schedule for lawn care specialists, if you are considering hiring out for this task. If you choose to do it yourself, then it’s time to break out the mower and get it ready for the weekly ritual.

Start your season off right by making sure your mower is in the best possible shape. Get your mower blades sharpened and clean the mower deck. Blades can be sharpened at a lawn care shop. The difference between a dull and a sharp blade can mean the difference between a lush lawn and lazy lawn. It can also save you time cutting the grass. The mower deck should be free of debris for safety purposes.

For a thick-looking lawn, set the blades to cut at a height of four inches. This height will also help keep the lawn from burning in the dry weather conditions Harford County has been experiencing. If the grass is too long or heavy and bunches up in the mower, double cut in the opposite direction. Finally, mulch your clippings instead of picking them up – it’s a great way to provide natural fertilization for other areas of your lawn and garden.

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The month of March can be so unpredictable in Harford County. Weather conditions can range from blizzard to 70-degree spring days and back again. No wonder the plants and grasses are confused! As Harford County lawn maintenance specialists, we've been emphasizing early intervention for weed control and grass growth, but what about spring flowers? Though very fragile, spring flowers can be stronger if the soil is rich and the environmental conditions are right.

Before your bulbs begin to bloom, it's a good idea to mulch, if you haven't already done so. This process can enrich the soil, enabling your bulbs to be just a little more hardy. Mulch will reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the soil, keeping it moist. It will also keep soil from compacting, which will enable water to get to the plants more easily. Mulch actually helps keep soil temperatures cool to moderate -- better for your bulbs. Mulch also prevents weed growth.

Ideally, flower beds should be maintained with mulch year-round. Sometimes it makes sense to enlist the help of a professional lawn care service for year-round attention. Maintaining a consistent program will benefit your flower beds by cooling the soil in summer and moderating it in winter.

Regardless of who does it, now is the time to pull back your mulch and either thin the layers or replace existing mulch with new material. If you're just starting, put down no more than three inches of mulch. This will allow air and rain to reach the soil more easily, while still keeping the soil temperature steady. You'll get the benefits of richer soil and beautiful spring blooms.

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Get your yard ready for the holidays. With the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having, your yard is probably still a focal point. Perhaps you are even still mowing each week.

As you are taking advantage of the mildness to do outdoor holiday decorating, consider freshening up your gardens with a new layer of mulch. Not only will it make the yard look more attractive, it will protect and nurture your soil over the winter months. Mulching discourages weed growth. It also retains more soil moisture so your plants don't dry out as quickly.

Most important for the Harford County climate, mulch can help to moderate changing temperatures in the soil and protect plant roots during the cold weather. Mulches can be made up of any number of natural ingredients -- grass, leaves, wood chips, compost, hay, gravel. You can choose it based on your aesthetic preferences or on what works for your plants.

Regardless, the spreading of mulch can be a daunting and back-breaking task. Consider enlisting a professional to do the mulching while you focus on the holiday lights!

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