Green Industry Yellow Pages

There are not many different kinds of products needed to maintain a luscious and pleasing lawn. The key to getting the most benefit from necessary products is learning what grass needs are and then acting to meet those needs.

Sound watering and mowing practices will serve to reduce the need of products such as pesticides and herbicides. Watering occasionally and deeply encourages deeper root growth where moisture content and soil temperature are more consistent. Mowing so that not more than about one-third of the grass blade is removed at one time reduces shock to individual plants in terms of losing some of their food-producing capacity. Both of these practices will result in healthier individual plants that are less susceptible to insects and weeds.

Fertilizer is a necessary product. The first number in the analysis is the amount of nitrogen contained in the fertilizer and is what contributes to healthy green color and above-ground growth. The other two numbers supply information about phosphorus and potassium, which support healthy root systems. Applied according to recommended rates, fertilizer gives lawn grass all of the major nutrients it needs. Only a small amount is necessary, and “more” is not better. Over-fertilizing can lead to a weaker lawn rather than a stronger one.

Many annual weeds can be controlled through the use of a pre-emergent herbicide applied in early spring before much active growth occurs. This form prevents last year’s weed seeds from germinating. Where broadleaf weeds create problems, there are herbicides that can be applied to the entire lawn. Those products attack only what is not grass.

Good maintenance and regular care reduce the need for other products. Other products will be needed less often and in less quantity.