How Do I Care for My Lawn in Northern Nevada?

Key Takeaways

Northern Nevada lawn care:

• Fertilization Timing: Spring is ideal for fertilizing to kickstart growth after winter dormancy.
• Aeration Importance: Aeration twice a year is recommended due to soil compaction and poor conditions.
• Irrigation Strategy: Water at least three times a week, early in the morning, to avoid fungus and turf diseases.
• Mowing Practices: Mow to 2.5-3 inches, using sharp blades, and change directions weekly for healthier grass.

Check out our fertilization, areation, irrigation, and mowing services.

Living in a semi-arid region like Northern Nevada, where summers are hot, and the winters are cold, can make it particularly hard to care for your lawn with no in-between.

On top of that, Nevada stays dry for the majority of the year, which can make something as simple as watering your lawn more confusing than it should be.

Maintaining a healthy, impressive-looking lawn in Northern Nevada does not have to be difficult.

You might want to keep your lawn healthy over the cold winter period or learn how to perk up the appearance of your lawn in time for summer.

Whichever it is, this guide will provide you with the best lawn care tips that you need to know.

Why Lawn Care Is Important

Firstly, there is nothing wrong with maintaining your lawn. After all, the appearance of any lawn does not just reflect the property but also the owner!

Aside from appearances, lawn care is essential for several other reasons. 

A healthy lawn, quite simply, feels good under your feet. You will notice a difference and something worth considering if you have kids who frequently play in the yard or if you like to host regular barbecues in the summer.

A healthy lawn also offers environmental benefits, such as cooling and purifying the air. In addition to this, good lawn maintenance can even work to your advantage by reducing your overall water usage.

Lawn care is more important than most people tend to think. And if you live in Northern Nevada (or are thinking about moving to Northern Nevada), it's worth knowing the best methods for caring for your lawn.

Lawn Fertilization

Whether you live in Northern Nevada or not, one of the best ways to initiate and maintain healthy lawn growth is fertilization.

Like any living thing, nutrients are essential for growth and health. This is why fertilization is crucial, as it will provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and look healthy.

Not only that, but fertilization will also help prevent lawn disease and the unwanted sprouting of weeds - two hindrances that can quickly damage your lawn's health and overall appearance.

When Should I Fertilize My Lawn in Northern Nevada?

In general, the best time to fertilize your lawn is springtime. This is when the grass starts to grow after its winter dormancy. 

In Northern Nevada, spring runs through February, March, and April. When you should fertilize in spring, exactly, will be when your lawn needs its first mowing.

After mowing your lawn for the first time in spring, is the best time to fertilize. Continued, regular fertilization is optional.

If you think your lawn needs extra nourishment - for example, before summer or during winter - a good rule of thumb is only to fertilize your lawn when it is dry.

For instance, always avoid fertilizing early in the morning when dew is present.

Lawn Aeration

Alongside fertilization, good lawn care also involves aeration: the process of piercing holes, typically between 1 and 3 inches deep, in the soil. 

Aeration allows the soil to breathe, which improves oxygen, water, and fertilizer infiltration.

Without aeration, the potential for lawn disease increases. Poor infiltration also means poor absorption, which can reduce the effectiveness of irrigation and fertilization.

These are the main problems of not aerating your soil, which specifically arises from thatch (an excessive build-up of debris in the soil) or compaction, where the soil has become too dense.

When to Aerate Soil in Northern Nevada

In Northern Nevada, it is recommended to aerate your soil twice a year. This is due to poor soil conditions and compaction, which are common within the region.

A routine aeration carried out twice a year is also enough to improve infiltration without causing any damage to the soil.

Lawn Irrigation

No matter whether you have a sprinkler system or a watering can, the key to maintaining a healthy green lawn year-round is to recognize when your lawn needs watering - most notably when it starts to take on a dull color. 

Another way to tell if your lawn needs watering is if the blades do not return upright after being stepped on.

Sun exposure and temperature also play a big part in watering your lawn. Due to this, it's a good idea to keep a consistent irrigation schedule throughout the year, adjusting it depending on the season.

When to Irrigate Your Lawn in Northern Nevada

Rainfall in Northern Nevada is infrequent, often unpredictable, and limited to just a few months a year. This makes it more important to maintain and carefully plan lawn irrigation.

It is recommended to water your lawn at least three times a week, earlier in the mornings - especially in hotter temperatures. Avoid watering at night, as this can quickly cause fungus and turf disease.

At the same time, make sure to follow the local guidelines for watering days set by TMWA.

Lawns in Northern Nevada will also benefit from deep, infrequent watering instead of light, frequent watering. This is due to common compaction of soil in Northern Nevada. In addition, running your sprinklers for an extended period will also lead to unwanted run-off. 

Therefore, it is best to water your lawn using a “stacked” schedule. This would, for example, involve running your sprinklers for 10 minutes at 3 am, 5 am, 7 am, and 9 am, as opposed to a single 40-minute watering at 7 am.

Mowing Your Lawn - The Best Way

Mowing is another vital part of lawn care, which needs to be done correctly to improve transpiration, prevent sun damage, and reduce the risk of weeds.

When mowing your lawn, it is always essential to make sure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades can damage grass, which won't only affect the appearance of your lawn but make it more susceptible to disease.

For best results, change the direction that you mow your lawn each week to promote thicker, healthier blades of grass and prevent rutting and compaction. Similarly, you should avoid cutting more than a third of the grass length at any time, as this will cause stress to the turf.

If you missed mowing one week, and your grass is at least six inches long, avoid the temptation to cut it all off at once. Instead, mow off two inches, followed by another two inches a few days later.

It also goes without saying that you should avoid mowing your lawn when it is damp. 

When to Mow Your Lawn in Northern Nevada

In Northern Nevada, grass growth increases in the spring and early fall when the temperature cools. This is when you can expect to be mowing more frequently.

But, as a good rule of thumb, it is always best to mow your lawn to two and a half inches or three inches. This will improve transpiration while preventing the encroachment of weeds.

Well-mulched grass clippings can be left on the lawn throughout the year. These quickly decompose and even return some nutrients without contributing to lawn thatch.

How to Prevent Lawn Damage

Last but not least, it's worth being able to recognize signs of lawn damage. Additionally, how to prevent lawn damage from happening altogether!

Rough spots and brown patches in the grass are apparent signs of lawn damage. These eyesores can often ruin the appearance of your lawn - as well as your hard work during the year.

Lawn patchiness can result from lawn disease (through poor aeration), dryness, excessive shade, chemical damage, mowing your lawn too short, always mowing in the same direction, or leaving unnecessary clutter on your lawn.

To keep your lawn looking flawless year-round, make sure to avoid those common lawn care mistakes.

Conclusion

Caring for your lawn in Northern Nevada does not have to be complex or confusing and can be broken down into proper fertilization, aeration, irrigation, and mowing.

To summarize, make sure to fertilize in the spring to initiate optimum growth before aerating in the summer to improve oxygen, water, and fertilizer infiltration. Good soil, after all, helps to promote healthy grass.

Increase irrigation of your lawn during the hotter, dryer parts of the year. And when it comes to mowing your lawn, avoid cutting your grass no shorter than two and a half to three inches in height, always making sure to use sharp mower blades.

And that's it!

Follow the above tips from this guide, and you can be sure to maintain a thick, impressive, healthy lawn in Northern Nevada throughout the year.

The Importance of Aerating Your Lawn

Key Takeaways

Lawn aeration benefits:

• Improved nutrient and water absorption: Aeration creates channels in compacted soil, enhancing movement of water and nutrients to grassroots.
• Root growth facilitation: Reduces soil compaction, allowing roots to grow more freely.
• Thatch management: Helps break down thatch, preventing it from blocking water and nutrients from reaching the soil.

Check out our aeration services.

If you are like most homeowners, you probably know when to water, mow, and fertilize your lawn.   The problem is, with the compacted, dry soil we have here in Nevada, most of the nutrients we put on our lawns don't actually reach the soil.  This is why aeration is such an important component to lawn maintenance.

There are two common questions we want to answer for you about lawn aeration - what is aeration and when does my lawn need aeration?

What Exactly Is Aeration?

Aeration is an essential part of a healthy lawn's maintenance. Aeration is a process wherein air channels are created within the soil to allow for more effortless movement of nutrients and water. This is especially necessary if the soil in your yard is compacted as it makes it harder for water and nutrients to infiltrate the ground.  Even roots find it hard to grow in such a tight environment. If this is the kind of soil you have, erosion and nutrient loss often happen. To reduce soil compaction and improve overall water infiltration, you need to aerate your lawn. 

When Does Your Lawn Need Aeration?

While not always necessary, here are some instances when you may want to aerate your lawn:

Highly Trafficked Lawns

If your lawn is highly trafficked by people or you have added heavy objects onto the lawn (think of areas of your lawn that are walked on consistently? ), more than likely, the ground is constantly getting compacted down. With the soil being compacted down, the nutrients that you want to enter into the soil don’t actually reach the places they need to go.  Aeration creates those “holes” to let nutrients in.

When the Grass Was Laid Down Together with a Newly Constructed Home

When a home is built, the existing topsoil is stripped or buried. All that's remaining for the grassroots to grow on would be compacted subsoil. This holds minimal nutrients, and you need to aerate the lawn to ensure that grass will grow well.  Be sure not to aerate while the grass is still initially trying to root.  Let the grass become established before punching holes in fresh sod. 

When the Grass Was Laid Down as Sod

Soil layering happens when there are different types of earth layered without mixing. This occurs when sod rolls are laid down over an already existing flat surface of the dirt. In such cases, a barrier develops naturally between the varying soil types, especially if the sod is made with sand that has more refined grains than coarse dirt underneath it. The water source is left behind because the finer-grained sand will hold the water, and the roots won't sink into coarse soil. Ultimately, you'll only get matted roots with no soil left for them to feed upon. As you can guess, grass will start dying then. 

Grass Dries Out Easily and Feels Quite Springy

Do you notice that your grass dries out all the time and feels quite springy? If so, you probably have too much thatch or a layer of dead grass that has built up between the soil's surface and the green grass. Because thatch can also get compacted as the earth does, water and nutrients are kept from passing down to the grassroots, too. 

Conclusion

Aeration is indeed a great way to help ensure a healthy lawn. Especially when the soil is compacted or when things are getting in the way of the nutrients that are supposed to be absorbed by the grass. It would be best to aerate during the growing season so that the grass can start repairing itself immediately and begin filling in the spaces left by the aeration. This will give your grass the best chance to get healthy and absorb water and nutrients needed for growth.

Cory's Lawn Service is a trusted team of professionals that offers lawn aeration and other lawn care services in Reno and nearby areas. Contact us today to learn more about our lawn care services!

Why Adding Winterizing Fertilizer to Your Lawn is a Must

Key Takeaways

Winterizing benefits:

• Enhanced Nutrient Uptake: Winterizing fertilizer prepares the lawn for cold weather by boosting nutrient absorption.
• Root Growth Stimulation: It promotes root development, ensuring a stronger foundation for spring growth.
• Disease Resistance: The application increases the lawn's resistance to diseases during the dormant winter months.

Check out our lawn fertilization services.

When it comes to winter lawn maintenance, there are a few things you can do to guarantee your grass is lush and gorgeous come spring. 

One of the most important things that come to mind is applying winter fertilizer, otherwise known as "winterizing."

What is Winter Fertilizer?

Don't be misled by the phrase. Winter fertilizers are typically applied in the late fall to prepare for winter. A winter fertilizer, sometimes known as fall fertilizer, is an excellent method to feed your lawn one final time before putting it to rest for the season.

During the summer, your grass goes through a lot. Heavy traffic, sun, illness, weeds, insects, and ground compaction all have an impact. By the time fall arrives, your lawn is in desperate need of a "pick-me-up." 

Applying an autumn/winter fertilizer as part of your fall lawn care regimen is a practical way to revitalize your lawn after a long growing season and before it greens up again in the spring.

Here are a few reasons why winterizing is a must. Read on!

Helps Your Grass Survive Winter

It is critical to understand that even if your grass becomes brown/dormant in the winter, it's still alive. When the grass goes dormant as the temperature cools, the roots are active and need nourishment to survive the cool seasons. The roots serve as a nutrition storage unit and an anchor to hold the plant body in place. 

When you use a fall winterizer, your grasses have a better chance of surviving the brutal winters. If the grass is adequately fed in the fall, the roots will better endure significant snowfalls, snow salts, and freezing conditions.

Promotes Growth and Rooting in Spring

Applying a late lawn winterizer is one of the best methods for maintaining the appearance of your grass. When grass is fed enough nutrients before the winter, it comes back faster in the spring. The grass may also regenerate thicker and fuller than the previous season. 

It bears repeating that cold-season grasses, such as Kentucky BlueGrass, thrive in the fall. Because cool-season grasses do not grow well in the early spring, the winter fertilizer gives them a head start.

Read this article on winter lawn care tips for more helpful information.

Conclusion

Applying a late fall winterizer to your lawn not only supplements your usual fertilizer routine but also guarantees that all of your hard work is not lost and that you get to enjoy a beautiful yard come springtime.

Are you looking for convenient lawn maintenance services in Reno to winterproof your lawn? Cory's Lawn Service can help! Get in touch with us for a free quote today! Our team of lawn professionals is focused on delivering top-notch customer service, maintaining beautiful lawns, and giving customers more time to spend on what is most important.

Understanding the Importance of Turf Density

Key Takeaways

Turf density enhances:

• Soil protection: Dense turf prevents soil erosion and degradation by shielding soil from direct impacts of rain and wind.
• Weed suppression: High turf density limits the space available for weeds to establish, naturally reducing weed growth.
• Aesthetic appeal: A dense lawn offers a lush, vibrant appearance, contributing to the overall beauty of landscapes.
• Durability: Dense turf withstands wear and tear better, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.

Check out our lawn fertilization and weed control services.

Many variables influence lawn density. Grass can become suffocated and perish as a result of lawn moss. Grass thatch, which is dead grass left behind from mowing, can cause a lawn to become dry, oxygen-depleted, and die in sections. Aerating, dethatching, and feeding your lawn correctly will allow it to breathe, acquire nutrients, and allow new grass to grow.

If you need help learning the importance of turf density, make sure to read on. 

Getting A Thicker Lawn in Five Easy Steps

1. Improve Soil 

Soil testing pays off handsomely in the form of lush, healthy grass growth. Take advice from the professionals and test your soil to get the most out of every step you take toward thicker grass. A soil test provides you with a precise starting point for your lawn's specific requirements, as well as advice for addressing any underlying issues. 

The pH of your soil and other characteristics that might stifle thick growth is revealed through testing. And by following test suggestions, you don't need to guess what you need to do to enhance your soil. 

Your grass cannot absorb nutrients if the pH of the soil is too low. Testing will reveal whether your lawn needs lime or other soil additions to restore pH balance and nutrient availability, allowing grass to grow thick and lush again.

2. Overseed

Overseeding puts grass seed into existing grass to thicken thin lawns or prevent them from becoming thin. New grass fills the gaps, giving it a lusher feel and appearance. This is a great way to improve the condition of your grass and make it thicker. You'll get better performance from grass produced via industry-leading research when you use premium grass seed (along with aeration where the new seed is allowed to fall into the aeration holes for protection from birds and heat).

Always pick a grass suitable for your location, climate, and lawn conditions. For example, if you're growing grass in the shade, shade-tolerant grasses can help you achieve the dense grass you want.

3. Fertilize

Lawn grasses, like other plants, require adequate nutrition. Unfortunately, minerals in the soil are frequently washed away by rainfall and irrigation. Fertilizing your grass regularly during the growing season will provide the nutrients it needs for healthier growth.

4. Irrigate

Once your thicker grass has established itself, you must maintain appropriate lawn watering methods to ensure that it receives enough water and remains thick. Grass seedlings need a lot of moisture to germinate and fill in gaps between existing grass. 

Once established, lawns require around 1 inch of water each week, whether from the rain or through your irrigation system. Deep, thorough watering promotes deep root development, resulting in thicker lawns.

5. Mow Properly 

Using proper mowing techniques allows your grass to grow thick and stay that way. Rather than mowing according to your weekly chores calendar, it's best to mow depending on the specific demands of the grass. 

Mow your grass at the frequency needed to keep it at the optimum mowing height without eliminating more than one-third of it in a single session. Many of the stressors that generate thin, unsightly lawns may be avoided by doing this.

Conclusion 

No matter your at-home lawn care needs, make sure you work with a high-quality lawn services company to get the best results. 

At Cory's Lawn Service, we deliver top-notch customer service in maintaining beautiful lawns and giving our customers the best experience. Contact us today if you need lawn mowing services, lawn fertilization, weed control, yard clean-up, sprinkler repairs, lawn aeration, or residential snow removal!

Grass Mowing 101

mowing grass

Key Takeaways

Grass mowing essentials:

• 1/3 Rule: Never cut more than a third of the grass length to prevent damage.
• Optimal Height: For cooler climates, maintaining a grass height of 2-3 inches is ideal.
• Bag or Mulch: Mulching is recommended for regular mowers as it naturally fertilizes the turf.
• String Trimmers: Use carefully around tree trunks to prevent damage.

Check out our lawn mowing services.

If you are like me, the very first time you started to cut your grass you had absolutely no clue what you were doing. Just as it is dangerous to give a sharp knife to a baby, it can be dangerous to our lawn to give a man a mower without proper knowledge of how to use it. Since the grass is just starting to grow this season, you should consider when it's the right time to pull out the dusty old lawn mower and give the grass its first haircut.  But while lawn mowing seems simple enough, most people don't know that there are actually a few basic things to keep in mind to ensure the best health of the lawn.

Use the 1/3 rule:

You never want to cut your grass more than one third of its current length. Cutting any more than this can be damaging for the turf. If you skipped a week of mowing and now the height of your lawn is excessive, make sure to raise up the height of the mower before you cut, then mow a few days later with your normal mowing height.

Length of Grass:

Since Reno is considered a cool climate consisting of mainly Kentucky Blue Grass and Fescue, our mowing height is going to be slightly longer than that of warm climate grasses. In general, around 2-3" is a good height for our region. Do keep in mind that during the hotter summer months you will want to keep you grass a little longer to help protect your turf.

Bag or Mulch:

If you are a home owner and are on a consistent once a week mowing schedule, I would suggest mulching your grass clippings. Clippings are actually a natural fertilizer for your turf as long as it is mowed properly. If you mow your lawn once a month and ignore the first two suggestions, then the clippings are not small enough to break down to become fertilizer for the soil and will actually damage your lawn if left in larger clumps. If you have large clumps of grass after mulch mowing, then make sure you rake those up before calling it a day.

damaged tree

Side Note for String Timmers:

If you have a string trimmer and want nice edges around your grass, or to clear the grass from around the tree trunks, be careful! It might seem like tree trunks are durable enough to take the abuse of a small amount of string, but after weekly beatings the string will actually break down the bark of the tree and kill it. Check out this BLOG for more information about how to protect your trees for string trimmers and mowers and just be careful.

Turn Me On (Irrigation)

irrigation activation

Key Takeaways

Irrigation timing insights:

• Early Activation (3/20-4/10): Ideal for those prioritizing a green lawn early, with risks of pipe damage.
• Mid-Season Activation (4/10-4/30): Balances greenery timing and system safety, avoiding late frosts.
• Late Season Activation (5/1-5/20): Saves on water bills, potentially stressing the lawn for deeper root growth.

Check out our irrigation and sprinkler services.

The Reno climate really makes it difficult to answer the question "when is the appropriate time to activate the irrigation system." Although Reno's climate promotes the grass to go dormant during the winter, the lack of rain and snow this winter, along with warmer temperatures, has people wondering when they should activate their water. Truthfully, there is no single answer to this question. However, depending on what type of person you are, there are a fe suggestions as to when you want to activate your water.

Early Activation (3/20-4/10)

This time is usually when most lawn care companies will activate their water, for both commercial and residential sites. This is normally done at this time because faster growing grass means mowing can be done sooner, which equals more money. At this point in time, the weather should be done with the hard frost, the ground should have thawed out, and freezing pipes SHOULD be out of the question. However, there is still a chance that a really cold night could leave you with a cracked pipe in the morning. If you want to be the first person on the block with a green lawn and believe this is better than possibly having a cracked pipe - then go for it, just be aware of the possible repercussions.

Mid-Season Activation (4/10-4/30)

This is the point in time where most people probably activate the irrigation system. Although you will not be the first on the block with the green lawn, you won't be the last. During this period, observe when the forecast no longer shows sporadic nights in the 20's, then have the piece of mind that nothing will break in the night. By waiting this long you have saved on your water bill for just a bit longer, and no damage has been done to the grass or the irrigation system. The downfall of waiting until this point is that many companies have already started to aerate, and if your lawn has not had a good soaking before the aeration process you might not get good cores out of your lawn. For more information about this, check out Lawn Aeration Part 2.

Late Season Activation ( 5/1- 5/20)

Unfortunately, the downside to waiting this long is that you will most likely be the last person on the block to have a green lawn, and after a winter like we just had this might be pushing the sustainable drought period of your lawn. The only benefit in waiting till this time is the amount of money you will be saving on your water bill. However, a period of drought for you lawn may actually encourage the roots in the lawn to grow deeper, as they try and find water further down in the soil. This is a good thing. Just make sure that you are not stressing your lawn out too much if no amount of rain has accumulated throughout the previous months.

Ultimately, you want to decide what type of person you are when it comes to activating your irrigation. Weigh out the pros and cons to these time periods, and figure out what works best for you and your property.

Watering your Lawn 101

funny watering lawn

Key Takeaways

Effective lawn watering insights:

• Optimal Timing: Watering between 4am and 10am reduces evaporation and wind interference.
• Proper Quantity: Ensuring your lawn receives 1" of water weekly can be measured with a simple can test.
• Addressing Brown Spots: Before assuming disease, check for poor sprinkler coverage as a potential cause.
• Regulation Compliance: Adhere to assigned watering days to avoid fines and support water conservation.

Check out our sprinkler services.

Now that we are a few weeks into the mowing season and the weather is warming up, many people are wondering how much they should water their lawn using a programmable irrigation system. I wish that there was a single answer like, "water these three times and I guarantee you will have a green lawn," but, unfortunately, it is not that easy. However, there are some watering times that are better than others, and some basic tips to see how much water your lawn needs, so let me help you with your lawn watering questions in the Reno area. When Should I Water?

After reading this you will realize this is common sense for the Reno area, but we live in a desert. During the summer, from early afternoon through late afternoon it normally gets hot and windy. If you water in the late afternoon you will most likely experience a higher evaporation rate, as well as water blowing into the streets instead of your lawn! Considering this, I recommend loading up and watering your lawn between the hours of 4am and 10am.

How much should I water?

This is where things get a little tricky, but the rule of thumb is to make sure your lawn is getting 1" of water a week. Some gauge this by placing a tuna can in the middle of the yard and measuring the water accumulated throughout the week. If you perform this test, realize that some areas of your lawn are probably exposed to the sun for longer periods of time throughout the day, so set up the can in a shaded spot as well as a sunny spot for a more accurate measurement.

bad watering

What To Do If You Have Brown Spots:

Most people assume that if their lawn is developing some dead spots it is due to some type of lawn disease, but this might not always be the case. Normally, brown spots are due to poor sprinkler coverage. If you have some dead spots you should check the sprinkler coverage before jumping to any other conclusions. All you have to do is turn on your water and see if the brown spots are being reached by the sprinklers. You will be able to quickly tell if the sprinkler heads have been knocked out of place or broken.

Are There Days I Can't Water?

The answer to this question is "yes." Here is Reno, we have assigned watering days set by Truckee Meadows Water Authority, which states:

- Even Address: Watering Days = Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

- Odd Address: Watering Days= Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

Anything Else?

The good news about the Kentucky blue grass that is mainly grown in Reno is that it is able sustain a rather long drought period, like the ones we see during the winter when the lawn goes dormant. So, if you have brown spots, forgot to activate the irrigation system, or went on vacation and your water was shut off, then there is a good chance your turf will be able to withstand this period of drought. Also, make sure not to starve your lawn by under watering it, and make sure to water on your assigned TMWA days or you might end up with a fine for failing to follow the rules.

Summertime Mowing Tips

summer mowing

Key Takeaways

Summertime lawn care offers:

• Sprinkler Check: Ensure sprinklers are correctly aimed to prevent water waste.
• Watering Adjustment: Increase watering times for deeper soil penetration, avoiding short, shallow cycles.
• Fertilizer Application: Apply slow-release fertilizers for sustained lawn nourishment.
• Mower Height: Raise the mower height to reduce stress on your lawn during hot periods.

Check out our lawn mowing services.

Summertime is here and it is time to make sure that your lawn and lawn equiptment is not neglected. It is very common for people to apply that first fertilizer application, set the sprinkler timers for spring conditions, and then think that the lawn will be just fine the rest of the season. But just as the weather changes and gets hotter, your lawn's demand will also change for what it needs to keep the lush green that it had in the spring. Below are some tips that I would recommend to consider to keep your lawn and lawn equiptment in tip top shape for the rest of the season.  

1.) Check your Sprinklers:

Sprinkler_Adjustment-300x219

It is very common for sprinkler heads to mysteriously rotate their direction and start watering the pavement instead of the lawn. This could be due to a mower knocking the sprinkler head, edger clipping the side of it, or even just a loose sprinkler head twisting on its own. Since most sprinkler settings are for early morning it is hard to visually see if all the sprinkler heads are still spraying in the correct direction. To check the system, manually activate the timer and double check that every sprinkler head is running correctly. This might involve manually replacing a broken sprinkler head (approximately $3-$15 per head), or just using a small flat head screw driver and some elbow grease to return the sprinkler to the correct position.

2.) Increase watering times:

If you are starting to see the lawn lighten up in color your lawn might need more water. Double check your watering times from what was originally set for the spring and either add another watering time or extend the current watering times a few more minutes. In the summer it is better to have a deep watering cycle so the roots of the grass extend deep into the soil instead of depending on short shallow watering application. This will help the turf in times of drought, but don't over water to the point where severe runoff is occurring.

3.) Fertilize:

This is a good time to apply a second round of fertilizer to your lawn. Most spring application (quick release fertilizer) will last between 4-6 weeks. It is recommended to apply a slower release fertilizer that will last for approximately 8-10 weeks. Ask your local fertilizer dealer for details about the benefits between quick release and slow release fertilizers to see what works best for your lawn.

mower adjustment

4.) Increase mower height:

While most lawns can handle a shorter cut during the spring, the increased heat and periods of drought will cause extra stress on your lawn during the summer. Think of possibly increasing your mower height just one or two "notches" (approximately 1/4" to 1/2") higher than what the lawn was previously being mowed at.

5.) Check your equiptment:

This is a good time to see if you lawn mower and other equiptment needs any maintenance done on it. Check the oil level, sharpness of the mower blade, air filters, spark plugs, and edgers blades to see if anything needs to be replaced or maintained to help the life expectancy of your equiptment. This can either be done on your own with the help of an operation manual or by a local small engines shop for a rather minimal cost.

The Top 5 Essential Lawn Care Tips for Late Summer

Whether you knew it or not, late summer means a change in how to care for your lawn.

We know, we know. Yet another thing to worry about amidst a pandemic, smoke-filled air, and more. 

Well, we can help with that: get a FREE quote here!

Or, you can help yourself and your lawn with these 5 quick-tips to preserve and prepare your summer lawn for the last run into Fall.

Key Takeaways

Late summer lawn care essentials:

• Proper Watering: Deep, infrequent watering fosters deep root growth.
• Mowing Techniques: Mowing with a higher blade setting promotes healthy lawn growth.
• Attention to Weeds: Addressing weeds promptly prevents them from overtaking healthy grass.
• Fertilization: Late summer fertilization prepares the lawn for fall and strengthens it against pests and diseases.

Check out our sprinler, mowing, weed control, and lawn fertilization services.

What Should You Do for your Late Summer Lawn Care?

1. Watering in the early morning

Nothing too crazy or out of the ordinary. But, you’ll want to start with changing your watering times to the early AM. 

Why? 

This is the coolest time of the day with summer still here, and it will allow the grass to soak up every last drop to maintain throughout the warm day without being affected by evaporation or wind.

Need a recommendation for timing? Try between 4 - 10 AM. Maybe have a cup of coffee first.

Pro Tip: Start to cut your grass at a higher level than before. This will provide more shade for the soil to stay cooler for longer.

Speaking of cutting your grass…

2. When was the last time you checked your lawn mower blade?

Like a good chef’s knife, you want an always-sharp mower blade. We won’t judge you if you haven’t checked all summer. But you’re going to want to see what you’re working with right now because believe or not a clean cut will keep your lawn healthy and help retain water.

Obviously, you can eyeball your blade to determine if it’s dull. Another method is to look at the grass edges after a fresh cut: are they ragged or clean cut? That will give you your answer.

So, how exactly do you go about sharpening a lawn mower blade to retake control of your summer lawn? 

The answer is completely up to you.

A few of the common options are to file by hand, find a blade sharpener drill bit attachment, a suitable grindstone, drop off at a local small engine shop, or any method you’re jazzed to try out. 

Just be careful, okay? You don’t want to prematurely end your hand modeling career.

3. Weeds. The roaches of the lawn care world!

This is the bane of any homeowners summer lawn care routine. Unfortunately, your weed problem is just as persistent as ever now as it was in the beginning. 

But you’re up for the challenge, right?

The tried and true option for weed control is to keep on pulling so it doesn’t grow to be out of control. And to double-down on a an in-lawn broadleaf, spray-on weed killer to keep them at bay.

Pro Tip: If you are pulling weeds, be sure to water down to the roots 24 hours before. This should help ensure you get the entire root. Also, make sure to get the correct spray for the type of weed you are dealing with.

And you’ll want to be mindful of where you spray. If you have or plan to grow other things outside of grass, just be careful of both where you spray and the type of spray. 

It could be a determinate to your vegetable plans. But no one likes broccoli anyways.

4. Add fertilizer, the good kind.

Not all fertilizers are created equal, but you’ll want to find one made especially for late summer heading into the Fall. 

During the warmer months is when your grass experiences rapid growth and damage (heat, insects, etc.) which is why you need to apply fertilizer to keep it healthy. 

Just like your growing teenager, there’s never enough food in the house to keep them satisfied. 

Look for fertilizers with soil-amending properties to slow release nitrogen to give your lawn the boost it needs to carry you through the remainder of summer! 

It will also serve you well to preserve key nutrients for a triumphant return next spring.

5. Give us a call.

Does everything above seem like too much work or a little too late?

We get it. I mean, our slogan is “Hire us and take your weekend back!” for good reason.

It may not be too late to save your lawn or at least get it ready for a better start next spring. 

We love what we do and we like to think we do it well. That’s why we offer a Free Quote here!

No matter what, we hope this was helpful and we look forward to sharing more pro lawn care tips and tricks with you!

With grass-stained clothes and smiles on our faces -- thank you for reading!

- Cory’s Lawn Care Services

How to Repair a Damaged Tree Hit By a Mower

tree damage

Key Takeaways

Effective tree repair strategies:

• Immediate Action: Quick response to tree damage can significantly improve recovery chances.
• Careful Pruning: Proper pruning techniques are essential for removing damaged areas without further harming the tree.
• Avoiding Chemicals: Refraining from applying wound paint or sealants aids in the tree's natural healing process.

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It almost doesn't matter how careful you are or how much you try and avoid nicking trees with a string trimmer or mower, over time it is bound to happen. The key is to not leave the damaged tree unattended, and there is a very simple way to help a damaged tree after a chunk has been taken out by a mower. This situation happen to one of my employees recently, which provided the perfect opportunity to show what should be done if a tree is damaged by a mower. The video below is a real situation where the rear tire of the the mower clipped the base of a tree and took out a 3" chunk of bark. Since the trees in the neighborhood are only a few years old, this damage could end up killing the tree if it is not attended to. It is important to recognize the damage right away and keep the bark that has been torn away from the base. By reapplying this piece of bark, like a missing puzzle piece, and duct taping the damaged area to prevent insects and other diseases from harming the tree during its recovery, the tree should heal over a 3 to 6 month period of being wrapped up and cared for.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPFmqkN6z8g[/youtube]

Golf Course Review 3 (Lakeridge Golf Course)

lakeridge

Key Takeaways

Lakeridge Golf Course offers:

• Locals Rate: An attractive mid-week rate for Reno residents, enhancing its accessibility.
• Golf Carts: Top-notch carts equipped with advanced GPS and self-braking features, unique in Reno.
• Scenery: Old-growth surroundings with breathtaking views, especially from the signature Par 3 hole 15.
• Greens: Well-maintained greens that are more forgiving, allowing for score recovery on challenging holes.

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Lakeridge Golf Course is one of the staple golf courses of Reno, NV. While it is one of the top recommended courses for tourists to play, it is also a Reno local favorite. The course is a 6141-yard Par 71 located just off of the south McCarren loop. While many of Reno's newer courses boast a desert landscape, Lakeridge was established in 1969 and has several old growth trees across all 18 holes. Lakeridge has several great features to offer, and after my round this past week I would like to offer my pros and cons of this great Reno course.

Pros:

1.) Locals Rate: I am not sure if this is a new feature to Lakeridge, but this year I noticed they started to offer a mid-week, $55.00 locals rate. I believe this is well worth the cost for guys like me who have played it multiple times, and especially for those who have never played it. Although this rate is not low enough to make it an every week go-to course, it is reasonable enough for tight budget Reno locals like myself to try and make it out once a month.

lakeridge 2

2.) Golf Carts: These carts are absolutely the top of the line in Reno. The carts include a very detailed GPS software with an additional GPS distance locator on the back, which no other course in town offers. The carts also offer a self braking mechanism that doesn't require the operator to set a parking brake. I know it is kind of strange to speak so highly of golf carts, but they are extremely helpful on this course and are included in the course fee.

3.) Scenery: The old growth that surrounds this course is unlike any other course in Reno. It allows trees, lakes, and streams to come into play for a majority of the holes. Their signature hole 15, a Par 3,  provides some of the greatest views of the city. While the scenery from this tee box is spectacular, the hole itself is not very friendly and is almost impossible to hit, especially if there is any wind present. Depending on the wind conditions, it seems standard to take 4 clubs to the tee box and just guess which one might get you to the green.

4.) Greens: While many courses I have played this year are suffering from dry winter conditions, which have affected their greens, the Lakeridge greens were in great shape. The difficulty level of the greens is on the easier side, which allowed me to make up some strokes from water balls on previous holes.

Cons:

1.) Rate of Play: Due to the popularity of this course, the rate of play is rather slow. I have yet to play this course in under 4.5 hours, even during the mid-week twilight time. Given the sophisticated GPS trackers on board, I would hope to see a Marshal on the course in the future to help the speed of play.

2.) Difficulty: I have yet to play the "tips" on this course, and if I was a better player I probably would. I find myself playing the traditional "Lakeridge" tees, which normally involve a t-shot and then a gap wedge or less to get on the green of most holes. Many of the par 4s on this course seem rather short for anyone that can drive 280+. Although this helps my game and I should not be complaining, I find myself attempting to drive the green on holes 1, 3, 5, 14, 16, and 17. This might not seem like a complaint because it is a major advantage to have a long drive, but the length of the course is definitely shorter than some others in Reno.

Overall, I love Lakeridge Golf Course and strongly recommend any local to take advantage of the "locals deal" they offer, which I don't normally recommend for many of the other courses in Reno.

Tips for Perfect Sod Grass Care (Guest Blog)

sod install

Key Takeaways

Optimal sod care offers:

• Watering: Essential for root establishment and soil moisture, even for low-water varieties.
• Fertilization: Various types support root strength, disease resistance, and grass growth.
• Mowing: Regulates growth capacity and, depending on the grass type, may require immediate clipping removal or not.
• Additional Care: Includes irrigation to build roots and using pesticides to protect against pests.

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So you’ve planted your sod grass and now have to maintain it. There are a number of ways to properly keep your newly sodded lawn from becoming dried out. Take a look at these steps and follow them closely to have your lawn looking its best.

• Water - Even if the type of grass you’re growing does not need lots of watering, you still have to give it some for proper growth. The best recommendation is to water your lawn daily but only if recommended for your type of grass. Water is essential for anything to grow, it aids in the root establishment and gives the soil moisture.

• Fertilizer - You want your lawn to look healthy, especially as you have invested money and time into this project and want it to be perfect. Fertilizers help this task by giving the grass all the vital nutrients it needs to grow and look its best. There are several different fertilizations that make sod grass grow well:

  • Phosphorus Fertilization - This type helps strengthen the roots.

  • Potassium Fertilization - Its main objective is to build a defense against harsh climate changes and diseases.

  • Nitrogen Fertilization - This one is not long-lasting, but aids in the advancement of grass.

  • Mowing - An easy and effective way to keep your grass growing to its fullest potential is to mow it. This helps maintain the right level of growth capacity. Some sod grasses do require that the clippings be bagged or raked immediately after mowing. Cut grass left on your lawn may suffocate the new grass and prevent it from growing. Others types do not need to be raked. This is related to their ability to feed off of the cut grass, which provides it with nutrients. Research which type of grass you choose to plant first.

Things that should be used at a later date to keep a healthy lawn:

• Irrigate - Like watering your lawn daily, you will also need to irrigate it. This will help in building the roots up and is done by literally poking holes in your new yard. You can do this with the use of cleats like professional athletes wear. Walk around your newly planted grass, then water. This will help get moisture into the soil and aid in the winter months when the ground tends to get hard and brittle.

• Pesticides - You may lose your lawn if it is not properly cared for. Insects and other animals such as gophers tend to feed off of grass. A good way to avoid this damage is to spray your yard with a pesticide. These are made to keep insects and animals from feeding off of your lawn. Some of the new pesticides on the market are safe for use around children and harmless to family pets.

If you've failed to maintain a healthy lawn, you can always start over by getting sod laid by a professional if you click here. These are surefire ways to keep your lawn healthy and maintained. Proper care is needed when planting grass at first. You will need to tend to it daily to ensure its fullest potential before being able to enjoy it.

Re-seeding a lawn in Reno, NV with Scotts EZ Seed

scottsezseed

Key Takeaways

Efficient lawn revitalization offers:

• Easy Application: Scotts EZ Seed simplifies the re-seeding process with an all-in-one solution.
• Adaptability: Formulated for diverse Reno, NV conditions, ensuring growth in various environments.
• Water Retention: The unique mixture retains water effectively, aiding in seed germination and growth.

Check out our lawn fertilization services.

This week I decided it was time to reseed my lawn because of damaged dog urination spots, digging, and general dog craziness. In the past, for small dog spots I have generally chosen to use Scotts EZ-seed. This product has worked great for me in the field for small bare spots, dog urination damage, and thin grassy areas. This time I decided to put Scotts EZ-seed to the test by applying a 20lb bag to an approximately 10'x10' bare patch to see if it is worth acquiring the $50.00 bag to fill in a larger damaged area. My hope in this process is to do one of two things:

1) Encourage home owners who may not have the know how or the resources to reseed a larger area by the traditional methods to use EZ-seed

or

2) To see if this product works best only in smaller areas and is therefore not worth the money to reseed a larger one.

The video below will show the complete process I undertook in using Scotts EZ-seed on my lawn. I used the EZ-seed in the proper manner, from the prep work to the watering, in hopes that this product does not disappoint. Since I have seen many of my customers use this product incorrectly, I wanted to make sure that I documented that I have done everything possible to ensure success in reseeding my lawn with EZ-seed. Although this product is expensive, I hope that in a short time I can come out heavily recommending anyone to use this product for larger reseeding areas, instead of the traditional methods.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llgvr9J9XQ0[/youtube]

Golf Course Review 2 (Bailey Creek)

bailey creek

Key Takeaways

Bailey Creek Golf Course offers:

• Exceptional Golfing Experience: Renowned for its engaging mountain course layout and scenic beauty.
• Convenience and Accessibility: Welcomes players with flexible tee times and competitive rates.
• Challenges for Diverse Skill Levels: Features a mix of hole designs, including notable dogleg lefts.
• Varied Conditions: Offers a mix of well-maintained fairways and challenging greens, with some variability due to seasonal conditions.

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Located two hours north of Reno is a great vacation destination known as Lake Almanor. Here you can find great local restaurants, skiing/fishing boating, along with some great golf. Last week I had the opportunity to play Bailey Creek Golf Course for the fourth time and I plan on returning again and again. After golfing so many desert courses in Reno, it is always a pleasure to get away and play a mountain course that has so much to offer. Bailey Creek opened in the year 2000 and  is a 7040 yard Par 72. The course offers some views of the lake and near by mountains, in addition to offering a multitude of fun and challenging holes. Although my scores at this course normally do not reflect my ability to play the game, I have to say it is an exceptional golfing experience each time I play it. My most recent experience (with golf partner Kyle) involved showing up just before 4pm on a Friday with no tee time booked. To our surprise, we were greeted with a cart at our car door side and a relatively open course to play on. Since this course is primarily used by weekend vacationers, I would recommend playing at any time midweek, or plan on playing a twilight weekend rate to avoid a large backup. Bailey Creek offers a wide variety of twilight and midweek rates that are able to attract cheap golfers (like us) to play such an exceptional course. After paying our $40.00 Super Twilight Rate we were ready to tee off by 4:10pm. Besides a mix up and some tension at the tee box with golfers who were "at the turn" (because they originally tee'd off at hole #10), the course was relatively open and a quick rate of play.

Although I can talk forever about the great things about Bailey Creek, there are a few things to watch out for as a golfer this year. One challenging aspect about this course is the large amount of dogleg left holes, which is unusual for many courses I have played. If you are a right handed golfer with a killer slice, plan on spending a lot of time in the woods searching for your golf balls. Secondly, the course's Par 5s seem relatively short and easily attainable in 2 shots from the "blue" tee-box, which can probably be corrected by playing "the tips". Finally, the main concern specifically this year was the condition of the greens. While every rough, fairway, and bunker seemed to be in exceptional shape, the greens were pretty beat up, which is probably the result of a harsh dry winter. I have played Bailey Creek in previous years and realize this is not standard for their greens. The photos below were the case for about 30%-40% of the greens in play, which sometimes had a major affect on the trajectory of the putt.

2012-06-15_18-15-43_103

2012-06-15_18-15-49_231

2012-06-15_18-14-10_921

In the end, Bailey Creek is still an amazing course. Although some of the 18 greens had significant wear on them, the rest of the course was in great condition. I would recommend for anyone to take a day or weekend trip to Lake Almanor and play Bailey Creek, especially with the great twilight and midweek rates, not to mention the nice restaurant and bar to hang out at after the round.