Lawn Care Archive

Protecting Your Lawn from Snow and Ice

May 27, 2019 by

Springtime in Wisconsin tends to bring pretty inconsistent weather, and it’s important that we continue to prepare and protect our lawns for those unforeseen snowfalls. Snow and ice can be dangerous to you and your landscape. Knowing how to manage their effects can help your landscape stay beautiful during the snow removal season. Here are some tips for protecting your lawn before a hard snowfall hits.

Do the following before a heavy snowfall:

Inspect Your Trees

When in doubt an arborist can help you determine if your tree is healthy. An arborist can determine whether your trees or branches have insect damage or are experiencing dieback. Dieback occurs when the branch begins to die from the tip to the base. Remove dead or diseased branches before the next winter storm to stop the spread of dieback.

Prune Your Trees

Winter is usually a good time to prune deciduous trees. This is because the leaves are gone, making the inspection of branches and tree structures much easier. Check for branches that will catch heavy loads of snow. This could result in the collapse or damage of your tree. You should refrain from pruning trees when the ground is frozen, as it will cause the tree to lose a lot of water and moisture.

Hydrate Your Plants

Even in the winter, evergreen plants can lose moisture through their leaves, so they need plenty of water. When plants are well-hydrated, they are more likely to survive a hard freeze. You can water your trees manually (a five-gallon bucket should be sufficient). You can also look for an anti-transpirant to guard your plants against moisture loss and protect your winter lawn from snow and ice. Simply spray it on the top and bottom of the leaves to create a wax-like protective layer.

Protect Your Plants

Cold winter winds can take the moisture out of your leaves. Before a hard freeze, consider wrapping your plants in burlap. The woven material allows air to pass in and out and eliminates the risk of creating a heat moisture trap. Once the cold spell is over, remove the burlap to prevent your plants from overheating.

Do the following after a heavy snowfall:

Don’t Shake Branches

This can be an additional risk to your plants and branches. Wait until everything has melted before assessing the damage caused by the snowfall.

Remove Branches When Appropriate

Remove any damaged wood when the snow and ice have melted. Make a clean cut on a broken branch or limb to prevent insects from inhabiting in your trees and plants.

Practice Caution with Your Equipment

When shoveling your driveway or walkway, be sure you don’t place snow on any plants or shrubs as it will only will damage them further. Exercise caution when using a chainsaw or snow blower in wintery conditions.

Protecting your winter lawn is easy when you consider these tips. The professionals at Central Services can help with all your lawn and landscaping needs.

Filed Under: Lawn Care

How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn? Here’s the Real Answer

September 19, 2018 by

Mowing the lawn is one of the classic chores associated with owning your own home. But how often should you mow your lawn? Is there an ideal way to space out your sessions cutting the grass? Read on to find out.

Someone mowing or cutting the long grass with a green lawn mower

Factors That Affect Mowing Frequency

Time Isn’t That Relevant

If you’re looking for a simple answer to how often to cut grass, you’re out of luck. There’s no general rule of thumb like “once a month” or “every other week.”

How often grass needs to be cut varies depending on several different factors, including:

  • Type of grass
  • Amount of rain
  • Amount of sun
  • Use of fertilizer and mulching
  • Use of sprinklers and irrigation
  • Weeds, bugs, and other stressors
  • Other soil conditions, including pH balance

Unfortunately, these factors can change week-to-week and season-to-season. For instance, some summers can be hot and dry, while others are wet with frequent showers. Cutting habits will also be different between the summer and the cold Milwaukee winters.

Because of the many variables, you might only be able to go a few days without cutting or you could go several months between cuts. Regardless of the weather, however, remember:

  • Don’t feel tempted to cut just because it’s been a while since your last day outside with the mower. Cutting when you don’t need to can actually damage your lawn.
  • Don’t mow the lawn based on time. Only cut when the grass needs it.

Length Matters

Rather than cutting based on a set schedule, you should pay attention to the length and overall health of your grass.

In many ways, mowing the lawn is an art, not a science. Your personal preference for length will be a major factor in choosing when to cut. This is why most homeowners can tell with the naked eye when their lawn is getting a bit too tall for their liking.

Don’t Cut Too Low

If you’re cutting based on when the grass gets too tall, it might make sense to cut the grass very low so you can go further between mowing sessions. However, this is not recommended.

Cutting grass too low puts dangerous stress on your lawn. For example, cutting the grass short during a hot, sunny summer can remove necessary shade from the roots, causing them to dry out. Shortcuts can result in yellowed and dying grass.

Golf courses tend to have very short grass, but these courses are given great care and daily maintenance. Do not try to replicate this on your own lawn unless you have a specific type of grass and take special preparations.

As a rule of thumb, never cut more than 1/3 of the length of the blade of grass. This will keep the grass healthier and looking its greenest.

Know Your Grass

Several types of grass are used for Milwaukee lawns. These different grasses can look best at different lengths. This is why knowing what grass you have can help you cut your lawn correctly.

Check out this guide for the ideal height ranges for popular grass types.

So, How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to how often should you mow your lawn. Due to many factors, the way grass grows is never truly consistent. Your best bet is to monitor your grass length and mow when it’s about one-third taller than you wish it to be.

For more insight into proper lawn care, check out our blog. And, if you find that you don’t have the time or patience to maintain your lawn yourself, give us a call. We offer year-round landscaping services in Milwaukee and Waukesha!

Filed Under: Landscaping, Lawn Care

What Is Landscaping? 4 Facts for Milwaukee Residents

September 5, 2018 by

Milwaukee sits smack dab in the middle of Zone 5B on the USDA Hardiness Map. This means that for landscaped plants to survive here from year to year, they must be able to survive temperatures all the way down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

But, what is landscaping? And how can you find the right plants for your location and landscape?

First, it’s important to understand that landscaping is both the physical landscaping in your yard (like the grass, the trees, the plants, and constructed elements) and the activities one does to keep up their property (like building a retaining wall or clearing debris).

Then, it’s important to understand that, due to regional differences, landscaping is different in different areas. What works well in one place may not work well in another. Once you understand that, then it’s just a matter of learning what landscaping works best for your area. No problem.

So, if you’re curious about what landscaping is like here, read on to learn more about what works for landscaping here!

Naturally sculptured flat top rocks placed in a beautifully landscaped backyard among a variety of perennial evergreens and shrubs.

What Is Landscaping in Milwaukee?

Having good landscaping in Milwaukee is all about having landscaping elements that can sustain the climate changes of this region.

For instance, you already know the winters are harsh. But, did you also know that the changes in temperature can cause shifts in the ground, especially where you may have pavers and other hardscapes installed?

If you want the garden and outdoor spaces of your dreams, knowing a little about how  four common elements can affect your landscaping is key. These are plants, trees, hardscapes, and maintenance.

Perennials vs Annuals

One of the key concepts in landscaping is to know the difference between perennials and annuals. These are the types of flowers you can buy for your landscape. When picking your plants, remember:

  • Perennials will last many seasons (if not longer), while annuals will only bloom for a few months before they die off.
  • Some perennials to consider planting include echinacea, daylily, lavender, peony, and various types of ferns.

Trees

Trees are an important part of any landscape because they provide shade and keep the air clean. There are a few different types of trees that fit well in the USDA zone 5B, including:

  • October Glory
  • Autumn Blaze Maple
  • Cleveland Select Pear

Hardscapes

Hardscapes are anything in your yard that are built with brick or concrete. This includes elements like retaining walls, patios, steps, and decorative stones.

Maintenance

Regular maintenance of your landscape is suggested to keep it clean and free from overgrowth. Your hardscapes should also be inspected from time to time, just to make sure they’re holding up to the elements and don’t need repairs.

What Is Landscaping in Milwaukee? A Year-round Task!

What your landscaping is really depends on where one lives, how one has designed their land, and what they want to achieve. For those in the Milwaukee area who work with professional landscapers, that typically means integrating great plants with great landscape design.

So, what is your landscaping like? Is it doing everything you want it to do?

If not,  contact us. We can guide you through the process by integrating the right plants with the right landscaping elements for your space and region. And we can maintain your landscape throughout the year so you don’t have to!

Filed Under: Landscaping, Lawn Care

Watering Your Lawn: How Much is Too Much?

August 15, 2018 by

About 78 percent of Americans have homes with landscaping or lawns. Yet 69 percent admitted their landscaping needs improvement.

Even if you believe you’re taking care of your lawn the right way, chances are, you aren’t. From fertilizing to watering, taking care of the lawn isn’t always as simple as you might think.

If you’re asking yourself, “How often should I water my lawn?” you’re asking a good question. It’s not as obvious as it seems.

rainbow from lawn being watered by automatic sprinkler

Year-Round Care

Lawns and a beautiful landscape increase the value of your home. That’s why learning how to take proper care of your lawn and landscape now makes sense. That way, when it comes time to sell, your house will have great curb appeal.

Lawn care is essential year round. Even if your grass is brown in the winter, it needs water. In fact, many Milwaukee-area lawns typically need at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.

How Often Should I Water My Lawn?

It seems easy enough: Turn on the sprinklers every day or every other day. That’s it, right? No, unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Don’t we wish!

First, you need to know the soil type under your lawn. This determines how often you should water, as well as how much. If you don’t know, consult a lawn care professional or buy a soil test kit at your local garden store.

Some tips:

  • If your soil is sandy, it requires water about every third day.
  • Clay soil does okay with one watering per week, while other soils need water every few days.
  • All types of lawn and soil do best with a long, slow soak every few days instead of a little water every day.

There’s also an easy test you can use to see if your lawn is well watered. For the screwdriver test, stick a screwdriver about 6 inches down into the soil. If it’s easy to push, your lawn is getting enough water. If it’s hard to push down, it’s not getting enough water.

Too Much Water

If you notice lots of water running down into the gutter, it’s possible you’re overwatering. Check the sprinkler heads to make sure they’re sprinkling the lawn, not the gutter. If they’re watering the lawn, chances are, you’re overwatering.

Sometimes your lawn exhibits symptoms similar to underwatering when it’s overwatered. Feel the lawn to see if it’s damp before you turn the sprinklers on. If it’s already wet, wait a day or two, then see how it looks.

Too Little Water

It’s possible to give your lawn too little water. So, how do you know if that’s what you’re doing? Here’s how: Some blades of grass wilt without enough water. If your grass is a vibrant green color that turns dull and bluish-gray, that’s a sign of underwatering.

Also, if you walk across the grass and see clear footprints, that’s also a sign the grass needs more water.

Great Lawn Care

Now you know how to answer the question, “How often should I water my lawn?” But remember there’s more to proper lawn care than just watering. Unfortunately, you can never assume you know how to take care of your lawn just because it seems easy. Your lawn is a living plant. It takes knowledge as well as hard work to care for it well.

If you don’t have time to take care of your lawn, ask a professional to help you. It’s well worth it, and we can help! Contact us today for an estimate or appointment.

Filed Under: Lawn Care

When is the Best Time for Lawn Aeration?

July 29, 2018 by

What if one easy trick could give you the most beautiful lawn in the neighborhood?

Lawn aeration can provide you with that beautiful lawn you’ve wanted. However, the trick is to know exactly when you should aerate.

Keep reading for our guide to the best time for lawn aeration.

aerated lawn with holes

What Is Lawn Aeration?

When you aerate a lawn, you perforate the soil with a series of small holes. This makes it easier for air to get through the roots of the grass. Water and nutrients will also have an easier time getting through.

If you have compacted soil, then lawn aeration is a particularly good idea. That is because the solid particles in compacted soils make it particularly difficult for air, nutrients, and water to circulate.

When Is the Best Time to Aerate a Lawn?

Lawn aeration is not a good idea for every season. If you’re not careful, you could end up making things worse for your lawn instead of better.

The ideal season for lawn aeration is fall. This is because you get a perfect combination of factors: the weather is nice and cool (making things easier for you) and there is low weed pressure. And, of course, the grass is still growing during this time.

Spring is typically a bad time to aerate the lawn because the aeration holes could lead to germinating weed seeds. Such weeds germinate in the spring, and aerating just makes things easier for them.

In the event of highly compacted soil, you can aerate in the spring to break the soil up. It’s best to wait for late spring, though, if you do this: weeds will be out, but this gives you a chance to aerate before they flower and then go to seed.

These general guidelines should help you decide when is the best time to aerate a lawn.

How to Aerate a Lawn

Now that you know when to aerate a lawn, there’s a natural follow-up question: How do you do it? It depends on whether you want to use a plug or spike aerator.

The spike aerator is really simple, letting you use a fork or tine to just poke the holes directly into the ground. Plug aerators are designed to cut and remove plugs of soil.

Generally speaking, the plug aerator will give you better results than the spike aerator. However, the spike is easier to use, so some try this method out first.

Alternately, you can hire professionals to do it for you since they already have the equipment and know how. Lawn care professionals are also better equipped to recognize any issues your lawn is having.

Best Timing to Aerate a Lawn

While you may know the best season for lawn aeration, that doesn’t mean every day is good for it. You’ll get best results if you aerate the day after it has rained. That way you benefit from the moist soil without having to water.

If no rain is in the forecast, then you can also just water your lawn the day before. Overall, the goal is just making sure the soil isn’t too dry for aeration!

The Bottom Line

Now you know the secrets about lawn aeration. But do you have pros who can handle your lawn best?

For local experts in lawn maintenance and care,  contact us today. Central Services has been caring for local lawns and landscapes throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha since 1971.

Filed Under: Lawn Care

Best Types of Grass for Wisconsin Lawns

July 22, 2018 by

Are you a homeowner? Are you looking to add more value to your property? One way you can increase the value of your home is by having a lush, grassy lawn.

In the U.S., 78 percent of adults have homes with a lawn or some other form of landscaping. So, it’s obvious that the majority of Americans value having a good yard on their property.

Are you wondering how you can get your dream lawn? The answer is simple: grass seed!

Here are some of the best grass seed types for lawns in Wisconsin, so you can find the right grass varieties for your landscape.

hand holding grass seeds

Good Varieties of Lawn Grass for Milwaukee and Waukesha

Kentucky Bluegrass

One of the best winter grass seed types is Kentucky bluegrass. Since it’s winter hardy, it’s easier to revive after a long, hard winter than other grass varieties.

It’s commonly planted in Wisconsin and is known for its ability to withstand cold climates. It’s also good for filling in damaged areas of grass.

To perform at its best, Kentucky bluegrass requires full sunlight, although you can plant it in shady spaces as well.

Fine Fescue

If you’re looking for a grass that works well in shady spaces and in soil with low moisture and/or pH levels, let fine fescue come to your rescue.

Fine fescue is one of the types of lawn grass that people rarely plant on its own. Usually, it’s combined with other cool-season grass types.

Be careful not to overwater this grass, though, or you may end up with a poor quality turf.

Bent Grass

Bent grass, while typically found on golf courses, can produce a dense, uniform grass turf—as long as you care for it properly.

Watering requirements for this type of grass are lighter than some other types, but they are frequent. Shallow root systems mean that the seedbeds must be kept moist on a continuous basis. This means bent grass may require more frequent watering than homeowners are accustomed to.

If you don’t have the time and money to maintain a bent grass lawn, you may benefit from choosing an alternative.

When to Plant

Whether you’re looking for drought-tolerant grass or another variety, it’s best to plant your grass during spring or fall.

If you want to have more time to establish your lawn, planting during the spring months is ideal. However, if you’re worried about the effects heat may have on your new grass seed, you’ll want to plant it during the fall months and allow approximately 6 weeks of consistent 50 to 70-degree weather to do so.

Try One of These Popular Grass Seed Types Today

While these grass seed types are quite popular with homeowners in Wisconsin, they are just the beginning. There are many more to choose from.

If you want to have a successful grass growing endeavor, it’s important to plant a grass type that is the right fit for your environment. Start with one of these seed types, and you’ll be right on your way to a beautiful turf.

Not sure which grass is best for your landscaping?  Contact us today!

Filed Under: Lawn Care Tagged With: ,

How to Revive Grass After a Long, Hard Winter

June 6, 2018 by

There are over 40 million acres of lawns across the U.S. That’s because homeowners love their lawns, and for good reason: Having a healthy, vibrant lawn can not only add to your home’s property value but also help cut pollution.

Following a long winter, you may be wondering how to make grass green again or how to revive dead grass fast. Not to worry: Those brown spots can be repaired!

Try these tips for reviving grass after winter and making your grass green again.

damaged, dead grass

Knowing How to Revive Grass

There are several steps you need to follow to bring back dead grass. These include:

Cleaning Up the Yard

The first step is to remove any leaves, dirt, or debris covering your lawn. This makes it easier to revive brown grass and allows you to find any areas which need extra care.

Aerating the Soil

Soil gets packed down with time and can choke off the flow of nutrients to your grass. Loosening up the soil helps the grass get the nutrients your lawn needs to grow. That’s why aerating, which loosens your soil, is great for bringing back dead grass.

Removing Dead Grass

After a long winter, it’s possible that some of the grass in your lawn is dead. You’ll want to dethatch the lawn to help remove any dead grass.

Using a rake to dethatch the lawn allows the soil and living grass to breathe and get the necessary nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Taking Care of Weeds

As your lawn begins to revive, so will the weeds that try to take over your lawn. It is important to quickly remove any emerging weeds before they have time to spread.

Preventative weed treatments can also help stop weeds before they can grow and become a problem for your lawn.

Dealing with Bare Patches

If you find dead spots in your lawn and are unable to bring back dead grass there, you’ll need to regrow the grass. This means either using grass seeds to regrow grass in the dead spots or using sod to quickly cover the bare patches.

With seeds, you’ll need to find grass seed suitable for your soil type and climate. You’ll also need to plant the seeds early in the season. It’s important to regularly water the area to make sure the seeds take root and grow properly.

If you choose to go with sod, you’ll need to select a species of grass that matches your existing lawn. As with seeds, you’ll need to water daily to make sure the sod takes.

Fertilizing

For your lawn to grow properly, it needs the proper nutrients. Using an appropriate lawn fertilizer in the spring helps provide the necessary nutrients. And, depending on the type of fertilizer you use, it may even also kill weeds.

There are many different types of fertilizer to choose from, including nontoxic and organic fertilizers, so it’s important to research before making a choice.

Knowing How to Make Grass Green

Here in Milwaukee, knowing how to revive grass after winter is a must have. Ithelps keep your lawn healthy in the spring. But remember: You’ll still need to take care of your lawn in the spring to get it ready for summer!

Whether you’re interested in learning about how to care for your lawn or deciding between seed and sod, we have the information you need. We can also help you with all your landscaping and grounds maintenance needs. Contact us today to find out more about our services.

Filed Under: Landscape Sodding and Seeding, Lawn Care, Winter Lawn Care

5 Signs You Could Benefit from Using a Lawn Mowing Service in Milwaukee

November 20, 2017 by

The average American  spends 70 hours each year caring for their lawn. With more than 40 million acres of lawns in the lower 48 states, that’s a lot of wasted time. Not only are those mowers losing out on 70 hours of their lives each year, they’re also spending loads of money, putting their health at risk, and more.

man mowing lawn

If you’re ready to get your time and money back, keep reading to learn five ways that you could be benefiting from lawn mowing service.

1.You’ll Save Tons of Time

Depending on the size of your lawn, mowing the grass could take several hours out of your day. In certain climates or during warm, rainy parts of the year, you may have to cut your grass at least once a week. Get those hours of your life back, and spend it on doing things you enjoy by hiring a lawn mowing service.

2. You’ll Save Money

The average lawn mower can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. If you need a riding mower because of health reasons or because you have a large lawn, it’ll cost you even more.

Plus, lawn mowers are far from a one-time cost. You’ll need gas to keep it running. You’ll need costly repairs when it breaks, which can cost several hundred dollars at a time. If you cut your grass regularly, you’ll have to replace your mower every few years. And this isn’t even factoring in other lawn-care costs, like weed trimmers, leaf blowers, and more.

The cost of lawn mowing service may actually help you to save tons of money every year.

3. No More Back-Breaking Work

If you’ve ever been left with a sore back, aching feet, or tired hands after mowing the lawn, you know just how back-breaking it can be. But you may not realize that mowing the lawn can actually be dangerous as well. In fact, each year, more than 250,000 Americans are treated for lawn mowing-related injuries.

If you think that many of these are older people with existing medical conditions, think again. Nearly 17,000 of those injuries occur among people under the age of 19.

Investing in professional lawn mowing service can help to protect you and your family from these injuries. It could also save you thousands in medical bills, lost pay, and more.

4. A Clean, Professional Looking Lawn

Even if you’ve been cutting your grass for years or you have a nice mower, it can be tough to rival the look of a professionally cut lawn. Leave your yard looking clean, tidy, and well-cared for by leaving the work to the professionals.

5. Reduced Allergies

Fresh cut grass and other weeds and foliage that you’ll run across in your yard could trigger serious allergic reactions. These can take days or even weeks to get over, and may even require medical attention.

Start Benefiting from Lawn Mowing Service Today

If you’re ready to save time and money, avoid injuries and illness, and more, it’s time to invest in professional lawn mowing services.

Contact us today to learn more, to ask about our FREE ESTIMATES, or to schedule a time for us to start helping you care for your lawn!

Filed Under: Lawn Care

5 Ways to Control Lawn and Garden Bugs in Fall

October 27, 2017 by

When it comes to bugs in fall, there’s a whole world of insect maintenance you’re going to want to be ready for. In any garden, there are two things you can always rely on: You need a watering system, and you’ll find pests somewhere.

So, today we’ll be looking at five of the best ways out there to keep these plant-munching baddies at bay this autumn.

Man with Bug Insecticide Sprayer - Central Services Lawn Care

Getting Rid Of Bugs In Fall

Kick Them Out

The truth about pest management is that even good pesticides can often be ineffective.

There’s a simple answer if you have relatively few bugs and aren’t too squeamish: Simply pluck them off. With a bucket or other container, take a walk through your garden and pick any bug that’s large enough off, by hand. Put it in a bag and take them all to a dump or safe location, far from your home and plants.

Keep Them Out

Sometimes, the best way to keep something out is a nice, solid door.

Well, in the case of pest control, maybe not a door. Row covers are lightweight sheets of fabric that are positioned above and around plants. These sheets are porous enough to allow light and air to pass through but work wonders at keeping out locusts, caterpillars, and other larger insects.

Don’t Encourage Them

Waste management is a bit of a tightrope for gardeners, but it’s one of the most important steps in stopping pest invasions.

First, never let waste pile up in or around your garden. This brings insects right to your door and can have a negative impact almost immediately. Be vigilant and remove rotting leaves, stems, or offcuts before they become a problem.

Next, pay very close attention to what goes into your compost heap. If the trash is being taken out of your garden, don’t put it into the compost that you’re putting back in your garden. These same insects will develop in the compost, and go right back into your garden’s ecosystem when you use it.

If your compost already has bugs in it, warm it up, wash it down, and then spread it out in a thin layer so that it can dry out.

Natural Pesticides and Insecticides

Of course, once you already have a problem, it helps to know how to take care of it.

There are all-natural and organic pesticide and insecticide options for gardens that already have insect problems.

Salt and/or garlic sprays have been shown to work well, or, if you’re willing to spend a little more, you may want to consider a good mineral oil.

Of course, a byproduct of any organic product is that they often don’t have the “staying power” of a more harmful chemical compound. You have to remember to apply these organic compounds more regularly in order for them to be effective.

Better Planting

There are also a few steps you can take while planting to prevent insects:

  • After watering, space your plants out to give them more space to dry.
  • Dry off your leaves to prevent fungal growth.
  • Cut off and discard diseased plants as soon as possible.
  • Test your soil regularly, and adjust the pH and mineral levels accordingly.

Bugs In Fall: Get It Under Control

Fall is a bad time for insects in any garden. Dying leaves, rotting mulch, and wet air all contribute to a pest revolution that will eat your yard whole if you leave them unchecked.

Hopefully, with a little help from us and our Milwaukee lawncare pros, you’ll have it all covered. Good luck out there!

Filed Under: Fall Lawn Care, Lawn Care Tagged With:

How to Make Your Own Fall Lawn Fertilizer

October 20, 2017 by

It may sound too good to be true, but we promise it’s the real deal. Keep reading to learn how you can make the best fall lawn fertilizer right from your home.

If you’re like us, you love looking after your lawn. And with fall here, there’s nothing more satisfying than kicking off your shoes and running your toes through the soft, lush blades of grass. And, while you may think that fall means it’s time to stop caring for your lawn, you couldn’t be more wrong. But don’t go out to your local hardware store and spend tons of money on ineffective fertilizers!

You can simply make your own at home for the low price of, well, free.

Wheelbarrow with compost fertilizer in lawn - Central Services of Wisconsin

Understanding Your Lawn

Just like people, certain types of grass require certain types of nutrition. If you have no clue what soil you’re working with, consult your zoning board. Chances are they have documentation that can help you along.

Now, you can’t use fall lawn fertilizer the same way you do in summer or spring. You’ll need to fertilize your lawn 6 to 8 weeks before the coldest months. This will likely vary by climate, so keep an eye on the forecast.

Use Household Goods

Here’s the good news: You can make an effective fall lawn fertilizer with things you likely have at home! Here are some of the most effective resources and recipes you can use for your fertilizer.

Coffee Grounds

Ahh, coffee. It wakes us up in the morning, keeps us focused, and grows grass? It may sound odd, but believe us, coffee grounds actually make for great fertilizer. So, next time you’re getting ready to throw out your old grounds, save them instead.

Use 1/2 pound as the foundation for a compost with grass clippings and add 5 gallons of water. Now, place the compost in a bucket and spread across your lawn evenly and gently. The water should break up the grounds. Make sure the grounds fall in between the grass, not on top.

Best of all, the coffee acts as a deterrent to pests! No more worrying about slugs, snails, and pesky insects.

Soda and Beer

Here’s a combo you’d never want to taste. While it may sound repulsive to your palate, your lawn will love it. A couple caveats: Make sure you’re using full-calorie cola and a darker beer. The chemical make-up will affect your grass otherwise.

Take 1 can/bottle of each, then combine them with half a cup each of ammonia, dishwasher soap, and mouthwash. The suds from the soda and beer will deliver nutrients while the ammonia produces nitrogen. Combine all into a spray bottle or hose and rinse your lawn.

Epsom Salt and Ammonia

Finally, you can use a simple combination of Epsom salt and household ammonia. Epsom salt brings nutrients like as magnesium and sulfur, while the ammonia will dilute the salt and introduce nitrogen.

Use about a cup of each and spread evenly over your lawn.

Need Some Help With Your Fall Lawn Fertilizer?

Using these recipes should get you results in a few weeks. Be sure to keep checking on your grass periodically and record your findings. You may have to vary the recipes slightly depending on your climate and soil types.

Of course, if you’re looking for some help, don’t be afraid to get in touch! Whether you’re inexperienced or simply don’t have the time, we can help.

We’d love to give you a hand in making your lawn greener and more gorgeous than ever. Get in touch today and see the difference a professionally maintained Milwaukee lawn can make.

Filed Under: Fall Lawn Care, Lawn Care Tagged With:
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