Summer Lawn Care Tips: Keeping Your Colorado Springs Yard Healthy and Vibrant

Summer Lawn Care Tips: Keeping Your Colorado Springs Yard Healthy and Vibrant

Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care

Summer Lawn Care Tips: Keeping Your Colorado Springs Yard Healthy and Vibrant

Ah, summer—the season of barbecues, outdoor gatherings, and basking in the sun. It’s also the time when your Colorado Springs yard needs some extra TLC to stay healthy and vibrant under the scorching heat. As a leading landscaping company in the area, we at Fredell understand the unique challenges that Colorado summers present for maintaining a lush and beautiful lawn. So what do you need to do to keep your Colorado Springs yard in its prime throughout the season? Here are some tips and tricks that we’ve discovered.

Proper Watering Techniques

Watering your lawn correctly is crucial during the hot summer months. Aim to water your lawn deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Watering in the early morning or late evening helps minimize evaporation and allows the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of disease. Remember that Colorado Springs has water restrictions, so check with local authorities for any specific guidelines.

 

Adjust Your Mowing Height

Raise the mowing height of your lawnmower during summer. Taller grass shades the soil, conserves moisture, and helps prevent weed growth. Set your mower to a height of around 3 inches to keep your grass healthy and resilient in the face of summer heat.

 

Be Mindful of Fertilization

Summer is not the ideal time for heavy fertilization in Colorado Springs. The high temperatures can stress your lawn, and excessive nitrogen can lead to burnout. Instead, focus on using a slow-release or organic fertilizer in late spring or early fall. This provides nutrients to the soil gradually, promoting steady growth and overall health.

 

Combat Summer Weeds

Weeds love to take advantage of weakened grass during summer. Regularly inspect your lawn for any unwelcome invaders and promptly remove them. Apply an appropriate herbicide if necessary, following the instructions carefully. Remember to choose a product that targets specific weeds without harming your grass.

 

Aerate and Overseed

Core aeration is beneficial for your lawn in the summer. It allows water, air, and nutrients to reach the grassroots more effectively, promoting a healthier and more robust turf. Consider overseeding with cool-season grasses, such as fescue or ryegrass, to fill in bare spots and improve the overall density of your lawn.

 

Protect Against Pests

Summer brings out various pests that can wreak havoc on your lawn. Be on the lookout for insects like grubs, chinch bugs, and sod webworms. If you notice signs of infestation, consult with a professional landscaping company like Fredell to determine the best course of action. They can provide targeted treatments to protect your lawn from these pesky invaders.

 

Provide Shade and Limit Foot Traffic

Excessive foot traffic and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can stress your grass during summer. Limit heavy use of your lawn during the hottest parts of the day and provide shade where possible. Consider planting trees or installing shade structures to protect vulnerable areas and create comfortable spaces for outdoor activities.

 

By following these summer lawn care tips, you can maintain a healthy and vibrant yard in Colorado Springs. However, if you need professional assistance or want to take your lawn to the next level, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced landscaping team. We’re here to help you create a lawn that stands out and thrives all summer long. Enjoy the season and savor the beauty of your Colorado Springs landscape!

Bring Your Lawn Back to Life After a Harsh Winter

Bring Your Lawn Back to Life After a Harsh Winter

Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care

Bring Your Lawn Back to Life After a Harsh Winter

 

Winter can be tough on our lawns, leaving them looking dull, patchy, and in need of some love. As someone who takes pride in their yard, you might be feeling frustrated by the state of it. But don’t worry! With a few simple steps, you can restore your lawn to its former glory and have it ready for the spring.

Take a good look: The first step is to evaluate the damage and get a sense of what you’re working with. Walk around your yard and take note of any dead or brown patches, as well as areas that need extra attention.

Clear away debris: Winter can leave a mess in its wake, so make sure to remove any leaves, sticks, and other debris that may have accumulated on your lawn. This will allow sunlight and air to reach the grass, which is essential for healthy growth.

Aerate: Aerating your lawn is a key step in restoring it after winter. This process involves making small holes in the soil, which helps to ensure that water, air, and nutrients can reach the roots of your grass. If you have an aerator machine, now is the time to break it out. If not, you can easily aerate by hand using a garden fork.

Fertilize: Your lawn needs the right nutrients to grow strong and healthy, so be sure to fertilize it. Look for a fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and follow the instructions on the package when applying it.

Reseed bare patches: If you have any bare or patchy areas on your lawn, now is the time to reseed them. Choose a grass seed that is well-suited to your climate and spread it evenly over the affected areas. Remember to water the seed regularly and keep it well-watered until it has taken root and started to grow.

Water deeply and infrequently: Regular watering is essential for restoring your lawn after winter. Instead of giving your lawn a light sprinkle every day, make sure to water deeply and infrequently. This will encourage your grass roots to grow deep and strong.

By following these six steps, you’ll be on your way to bringing your lawn back to life after a harsh winter. With a little bit of care and attention, you’ll have a lush, green lawn that will be the envy of your neighborhood and a source of pride for you.

Mulching

Mulching

Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care

There are many ambiguities when it comes to gardening; plants that thrive, synthetic versus organic fertilizers, wildlife deterrents, etc. However, one certainty you can count on is that mulch is good for all gardens. Not only is mulch aesthetically pleasing, but it also has several practical benefits.

One of the primary benefits of mulch installation is that it retains moisture, and thus, reduces the amount of supplemental irrigation needed. It helps control soil erosion by softening the impact of rainwater. It also improves soil quality via decomposition. One benefit that gardeners especially like is that it helps to control weeds. With all these benefits it’s no wonder why mulching is so popular!

Mulch comes in many different colors and textures so that it is easy to find one that will suit the needs of most landscapes. The type of mulch that should be used depends on the color desired and the amount of wind on site.

Many ask when is a good time to mulch, and luckily it can be done any time of the year and should be reapplied every two to three years to make up for the loss due to decomposition and wind. Typically, only 1/3 of the original amount needs to be added. It is generally recommended that the mulch be applied 3” thick. If it is too thin it might lead to weed issues and not hold in moisture very well. If it is too thick it might not let enough light and water pass through for optimal plant growth. When applied properly, mulching has many practical benefits.

Mulch Water Feature

Water Feature | Mulch

Water Fountain Water Feature in Mulch Soil

Soil Cement | Water Feature | Mulch

Pavers Path next to Rocks and Mulch

Pavers | Path | Rock Mulch

Siloam Stone Walls | Water Feature | Mulch

Siloam Stone Walls | Water Feature | Mulch

Soil Cement Path | Mulch

Soil Cement Path | Mulch

Siloam Stone | Mulch

Siloam Stone | Mulch

Pathway | Steps | Mulch | Asphalt

Pathway | Steps | Mulch | Asphalt

Seating | Retaining Wall | Mulch | Steps

Seating | Retaining Wall | Mulch | Steps

Dry Creek Bed | Mulch

Dry Creek Bed | Mulch

Soil Cement Path | Rock Mulch

Soil Cement Path | Rock Mulch

Dry Creek Mulch

Dry Creek Mulch

Fall Yard Maintenance

Fall Yard Maintenance

Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care

Although September still gives us plenty of beauty in the landscape, fall is just around the corner and the end of the gardening season in near. Here are a few landscape tips to help you head into autumn.

  • Fertilize lawn.
  • Overseed bare or thin spots in lawn.
  • Continue mowing operations.
  • Dead head annuals and perennials.
  • Divide overgrown perennials and ornamental grasses.
  • Inspect sprinkler system operation, adjust timing as needed.

The end of October is the finish line for the gardening season. This is the time to rake leaves, shut down the irrigation, and rake the planting beds. Here’s a few checklist items to help you through this process.

  • Follow temporary draining instructions for sprinkler system (page 9), as temperatures dictate.
  • Clean off tops of dried perennials.
  • Plant spring-blooming bulbs.
  • Adjust staking of new trees.
  • Dead head annuals and perennials.
  • Rake leaves (if not cleaned up, fallen leaves can be harmful to sod and often can harbor insects and diseases harmful to plants).
  • Reduce watering times on sprinkler zones.

November is the time to put your garden to rest for the winter by mulching beds and wrapping trees. Here’s a few checklist items for garden chores of the month to help you.

  • Mulch roses and tender perennials.
  • Rake leaves
  • Cut back perennials to 2-3” from the ground.
  • Wrap trees, especially aspens in deer areas.
  • Drain (blow out) sprinkler system.
  • Remove annuals.

Irrigation Shutdown

Each fall, before the first hard freeze, sprinkler systems are “blown out.” This happens in regions where frost in the ground reaches below the depth of the irrigation pipes. In Colorado Springs, blowouts are usually done in October and November.

It’s convenient to delay the irrigation shut down as long as possible so that you limit the amount of time that you have to water by hand. When the night temperatures start dropping below freezing, but the hard freezes haven’t quite yet set in, it is important to temporarily drain your system. This removes most of the water from the back flow preventer so that it doesn’t freeze, expand, and break. However, it doesn’t remove the water from the underground pipes, which is only done during the blowout with an air compressor.