Lawn Care Company Milwaukee Archive

Crabgrass Control

Crabgrass can be any homeowner’s nightmare. It can grow at an alarming rate, even in dry, hot seasons, and take over a once beautiful lawn. Crabgrass is unsightly and most noticeable because it grows at a faster rate and makes the lawn look uneven.  There are chemicals that help eliminate crabgrass once it is established without hurting the  lawn but the best way to control it, is to prevent it.

Crabgrass is an upright weed that can be mat forming and often has purple stems.

Crabgrass is an upright weed that can be mat forming and when mature it often has purple stems.

In Wisconsin Crabgrass is an annual grassy weed, meaning it has a life of less than a year. The first hard frost of the year will kill off the weeds; however one crabgrass weed can distribute thousands of seed which will be ready to germinate in the spring. Crabgrass germinates when the soil temps are greater than 55°F for a consecutive 7-10 days and it will continue to germinate in soil temperatures up to 95°F. The best way to control it is by applying a professional grade pre-emergent herbicide before it germinates. In our area it is typically most effective if it is applied in April to mid-May however, in a seasonably cold or hot spring it can alter the best timing of this application.

Central Services takes in account all the variable of the season to time the crucial period of when to apply this pre-emergent. Applications of the professional pre-emergent used will not only help prevent crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds, it will promote a healthy, dense, lawn. Our specialists can implement the best program for your lawn to help control weeds. We will come out and evaluate your lawn and recommend the best program.  Contact us today and talk to a certified and licensed professional about managing your lawn.

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Mowing the Lawn

The constant activity you will need to do on a weekly basis (most of the year), and whether you’re a green thumb or not, there is a method to the madness of mowing your lawn.

Mowing your lawn is like trimming your hair. It’s taking away the mangled, dirty ends so that the rest of your hair can grow back longer and healthier. Every type of grass is different when considering the height of the blade on your mower, but if you follow the one-third rule—that is, don’t cut any more than one-third the total length of grass—you’ll be fine. And for frequency? Most homeowners are out there cutting grass once a week, depending on rainfall in the previous days. The more precipitation you get, the more your grass will grow, and the sooner you’ll have to mow it!

One last thing to mention is the trees you’ll mow around. Many people treat tree trunks like bumper poles in a game of bumper cars, when that is detrimental to the tree! A lawn mower repeatedly hitting the tree can cause irreparable damage in the form of damaged or rotting underlying skin tissue, an essential part of the tree’s growth. Keep a three-foot radius of grassless soil around the tree, and maybe even install some decorative bricks to add a bit of flair to your lawn while protecting your trees at the same time!

For more information about mowing, contact your favorite Waukesha and Milwaukee Landscaper, Central Services Co, Inc.; for a quote.