Finding the Right Lawn Care Program

Having one company care for your trees, shrubs and lawn is more than just a convenience to you. It can also greatly benefit your landscape. That’s because the more we learn about soil biology and the tenets of organic property care, the more obvious it has become that our landscapes need to be treated as integrated systems. On most properties, tree roots extend beneath turf grass, but in nature trees and grass rarely coexist. In fact, the two have very different soil requirements. So if we aren’t careful, how we treat our turf may negatively effect our trees, and vice-versa (especially when we introduce synthetic products).
The lawn care services we offer at Almstead are all prescribed with special attention to maintaining a healthy balance between turf and your other landscaping. For instance, our compost tea treatments infuse soil with microorganisms that release nutrients naturally as your grass needs them. Products like these compost teas (as well as slow-release versions of traditional fertilizers) keep the soil being shared by trees and grass balanced, rather than saturated with nutrients that could actually stress plant material.

It’s important to note that most problems in lawns don’t start with the introduction of a pest or disease. Damage is more likely the result of improper practices such as over-watering, mowing too low, over-using fertilizers and pesticides, not aerating the soil, and even improper turf grass selection. While our lawn care programs do include a wide range of pest and disease controls, our focus in on creating self-sustaining turf that is healthy enough to fight off problems on its own.

In order to create long-lasting results for any plant material, the key is to improve the soil. Turf needs nutritionally balanced soil, teaming with microbial life to achieve productive growth as well as protect against pests and diseases. In addition to soil amendments and fertilizers, a pivotal element of this process is actually core aeration. When soil becomes compacted, its particles are pressed close together, restricting the movement of oxygen, nutrients, and water to the turf’s roots. This leads to slow growth as well as increased susceptibility to drought, disease, and insect damage. Core aerating allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil, promoting root growth and healthier grass.

By caring for your turf from the roots up, we can create a more sustainable lawn that requires less reseeding and fewer applications to control insects, diseases, and weeds. Instead, you’ll have a thick, healthy lawn that’s ready for you to enjoy all season long.