AJ Southwest - Jay's Blog

Watering Your Landscape

Maria — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:00:28 +0000

As the weather warms up, we’ll have to get into our watering routine. So, how much is right? Of course, every yard is different. Variables include: soil type, drainage, grass type, rainfall, plant types, and amount of shade. Most agree that less frequent deep watering is best but keeping a consistent soil moisture level is important. This time of year, 2 times per week at most, for about 20 minutes per station is a good place to start. If you see that the water is running off before the 20 minute time, try doing two cycles 10 minutes each to give the water a chance to soak in. Begin to experiment to see if you can back off this schedule some. Try changing the schedule to 3 times in two weeks and see how your grass reacts. If you go out in the late morning after the dew is dry and step on the lawn, does your footprint remain? This means your grass needs water. (don’t try this in the heat of the afternoon – then the foot print is there just because it’s hot!). There is no one way to water. Water as infrequently and deeply as possible, but use your landscape as your guide.

Grass Maintenance

Maria — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:58:06 +0000

Our grass is finally beginning to green up and it’s time to mow! We have the best success with our customers who let the clipping fall (providing organic matter for the soil), and who leave their lawn fairly thick. Grass should be left 3” tall for Bermuda and 3.5” for St. Augustine. Having a thick lawn will reduce weed germination because the thick grass acts like a ‘living’ mulch. We all know how great shredded mulch is for inhibiting weed growth in flower beds. Tall thick grass creates the same situation for the lawn area. So, use a mulching mower and raise the height setting for a healthier lawn and less weeds.

Planting Trees

Maria — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:19:12 +0000

In observance of Earth Day, many organizations are planting trees to honor the day. We cross our fingers and hope for the best each time we see a tree planted. But the truth of the matter is that too many builders, landscape companies, and even tree companies don’t plant trees correctly! One of our services is providing correction to problems left from improper tree planting. When you plant a tree, the hole should be dug one third to one half bigger than the width of the root ball, but no deeper. The top of the root ball is NOT necessarily the top of the dirt in the pot. Pull the tree out of the pot and knock off any excess dirt on the top until you see the trunk flaring out into the root zone – this is the top of the root ball and it should not be below the soil surface. You really should leave the top of the tree’s root ball one to two inches above the adjacent soil grade. Be sure to unwind or cut away any girdling roots. Fill the hole with the native soil that you dug out of the hole. Mulch when you’re done, but don’t pile the mulch up on the truck, this creates an environment for critters and diseases to attack the trunk.