Dear friend,
One of the great things about life in the Pacific Northwest is the environment we have for growing great lawns. Lawns have become a big part of our urban and suburban culture and can have a big impact on the marketability of your home. Great looking lawns add value and appeal. Conversely unkempt lawns can seriously detract from a home’s perceived value at time of appraisal or sale.
Most lawns can be easily maintained by the homeowner but not without a bit of knowledge and the proper tools. Maintaining the proper soil chemistry and controlling weeds and pests can be a bit beyond the ability of the average homeowner. Most of us would benefit greatly from the advice and periodic help of a professional.
I rely heavily on my favorite professional Matt Shay of Sunrise Landscape Services 425-508-2460. Matt can do it all from full maintenance to periodic clean up. I asked Matt to put together a list of the top items to focus on to get ready for spring so I could share it with my friends.
Yours truly,
Linnea Jones
425-765-2211
Oh by the way, if you or someone you know could use some help with Real Estate or home repairs, just call me with their name and number and I’ll be happy to help them (but I won’t mow their lawns).
Some tips for your Northwest lawn before Spring begins
- Servicing your lawnmower annually is highly recommended. There’s nothing quite so frustrating than to have a half-mowed lawn due to a breakdown. If you’d prefer not to service it yourself, get it done now. Don’t wait until everyone else is taking their mowers for service as this may cost you valuable time waiting in line. Make sure the blade gets sharpened. A sharp blade is important for lawn health.
- Walk the entire turf area. Check for winter damage, excessive thatch and moss as well as lawn weeds. Also check for large divots which can be angle twisters. Fill those with good earth and seed around the beginning of April.
- Thatch- As a rule of thumb thatch needs to be removed once it has built to a depth of one inch. Some thatch is actually good for your lawn as it retains moisture and protects roots during the hotter months. Not all lawns build thatch at the same rate so check annually.
- Moss- Small patches of moss can be easily treated with iron. Larger crops will need to be physically removed. Either by hand or by machine.
- Aerate- Once a year is preferred and will be a huge benefit to overall turf health. Earth becomes compact and lawn roots will have a difficult time remaining established. The best time to aerate is now if the turf area is not too wet.
- The first mowing can wait until turf height is 3 inches but not much higher. Try never to remove more than 1/3 of the lawn height when you mow as this will stress your lawn. Try to mow when the lawn is dry. This can be hard to do but a professional landscaper with the right equipment can get it done wet or dry.
- Fertilize- Preferably right after the first mowing. Lawns want to be pushed and fed about five times a year. Use only high quality fertilizer. For the first feeding I would recommend a 60% slow release fertilizer with a ratio of 21-3-21. This is also a good time to apply iron if you have moss in your lawn. Use the proper ratio’s throughout the year.
- Enjoy!!! Take pride in your hard work. Lawns are hard work, no doubt about it but the reward of a lush green carpet saying goodbye in the morning and welcoming home in the evening are so worth the effort.
If you have any questions about your lawn or need help with any aspect of maintenance, feel free to give me a call. I’m always willing to help.
-Matt Shay, Sunrise Landscape Services 425-508-2460
Courtesy of Linnea Jones – Windermere Real Estate / Northeast, Inc. 425-765-2211
