Do You Have Moles In Your Yard?
Many homeowners have the misfortune of having to deal with pesky moles in their backyards. These creatures will burrower underneath the ground and wreak havoc on your lawn. You’ll need to get rid of these annoying creatures in order to keep your backyard in good shape and looking great.
There are a number of ways to get rid of moles and one of the first things to do will be to get rid of the food they’re attracted to. The main reason moles come into your yard is because they’re searching for food and grubs are considered a tasty meal. Therefore, if you have grubs in your yard, the moles could eventually find their way there too. Take steps to get rid of the grubs and you should see an improvement.
You can also opt to use repellents or traps to deter and capture the moles. There are even a few homemade remedies that can be used as well such as, mixing castor oil with detergent and water, then sprinkling the mixture over your lawn when the soil is soft. If you have a mole problem taking steps to eliminate them from your backyard will enhance the beauty of your lawn.
How Much is the Right Amount of Thatch in the Back Yard?
Have you ever wondered why there are so many lawn thatch removal tools available if thatch is supposed to be good for a lawn? Lawn thatch, like almost everything else, is beneficial only in moderation.
Lawn thatch is the buildup of dead roots, stems and lawn cuttings. The debris decomposes and the nutrients return to the soil, nourishing the grass as an organic fertilizer. If the thatch gets too thick, however, it can prevent moisture from penetrating down into the soil to the roots that need it. A heavy thatch buildup is also an inviting place for diseases and insect pests to multiply.
One of the main causes of excessive thatch buildup is letting the grass grow too high between mowing. If the grass cannot be cut at regular intervals, the clippings should be gathered and removed from the lawn.
A healthy level of thatch in the lawn can usually be achieved when maintenance includes the use of a power rake once a year. After that, cutting the grass on a regular schedule and letting the clippings remain on the lawn will keep a healthy layer of thatch that will continuously decompose and act as a natural fertilizer.
Winter Lawn Care Tips for Southern Climates
For home owners living in the northern parts of the US, caring for their lawn in the winter is not a big deal. However, for those who live in the southern states, it’s a completely different story. In many areas the climate is so mild that the grass continues to grow all year long making it necessary to care for it much the same way you would in the spring and summer.
The grass won’t normally grow as fast in the winter but it can still grow enough to make it necessary to mow your lawn. Nevertheless, it won’t need mowed as often so you don’t need to do it once or twice a week like you would in the summer. It’s recommended that you inspect your lawn on a regular basic and when the grass is above the desired length, then mow.
It’s vital that you keep your lawn free of debris during the winter. Even though the grass will continue to grow, it’s not as strong and resilient during this time of year as other times. It will be more difficult and it will take longer for the grass to recover if damaged. Make sure you pick up any toys, tools or anything else that is covering the grass and rake up any leaves that have fallen for the best results.
If you need to plant new grass, shrubs or any other plants, this is the perfect season to take care of those things. It’s not too cold or hot so it makes it easier for new growth to take hold. If you live in a southern climate that is very dry, don’t forget to water your grass to keep it healthy.
-
Recent Posts
-
Categories
Site content Copyright © 2011 - Better Backyards - All Rights Reserved
