11 Dec 2020

By BGLawn Gardening, General, Lawn Care

Why You Should Test Your Lawn’s Soil | Home Soil Testing Explained

Home lawn soil testing is the best way to find out exactly what is going on with your soil. Soil tests are used to measure the nutrients that your soil provides to plants and recommend corrective steps for any problems. Performing a soil test will provide you with helpful information and insights into establishing lawn fertility goals. Testing should be done regularly as part of your lawn maintenance schedule.

How to Sample Your Soil for Testing

To perform a home lawn soil test, you will need several soil samples from your lawn. You can either test several spots independently or mix soil from around the lawn to get a general idea of how the whole lawn is doing.

Soil samples should be collected about two to three inches below the surface of the soil. Use a trowel or a spoon to collect the sample. You should not touch it with your hands as residue from your body could affect the results.

Put each sample in a separate container and label it with where it came from. For home lawn soil testing, we recommend taking a sample from every corner of the lawn. You should also collect a sample from the center as well as any place that is different from the rest of the lawn, such as a sunny spot or a spot that does not drain very well.

What a Soil Test Measures

Home lawn soil tests measure a variety of nutrients that are essential for your lawn. Most commonly, results found in testing kits include the pH level of the soil, as well as levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash or potassium.

pH Levels

The pH level of your lawn is essential because all plants grow best at a specific pH level. If the pH level is too high or too low, your grass will not be able to use the nutrients in the soil and thus will not grow as strongly as it could.

The ideal pH for different kinds of grass varies, but most grasses like acidic soil. If your pH needs to be higher (more alkaline) you can add hydrated lime or even ashes from your fireplace. To lower pH (more acidic), ground rock sulfur is a popular additive. However, sawdust, composted leaves, and leaf mold are also beneficial for lowering the pH of your soil.

Nitrogen

Your soil needs to have the correct amount of nitrogen because nitrogen will make your grass leafy and full. If there's not enough nitrogen in your soil, your lawn will be more susceptible to pest infestation and disease. However, if there is too much nitrogen, the focus is on green growth at the expense of flowers and seeds. While this is not really a problem for lawns, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is especially useful if you are planning to sod your lawn because it stimulates root growth, gives plants a healthy start, and makes them mature faster. Phosphorus also helps plants to bloom and form seeds. While this is not so vital in the lawn, it is useful in other parts of the garden.

Potassium

Potassium or potash helps achieve early root formation, which is vital when growing grass from seed. Potassium also helps to protect your plants from drought and frost and will help make your grass stronger.

Using Home Soil Test Results

Understanding the nutrients in your lawn is only half the battle. Correctly applying the necessary corrective action based on the test results can be the deciding factor of your lawn’s health. With over 35 years of experience transforming lawns, our eight-treatment lawn plan is the best way to achieve a stronger, healthier lawn year-round! Learn more about our treatment plans or give us a call at (215) 364-7000 for a FREE quote!

Check out our Facebook page for more lawn care tips!

21 Jul 2020

By BGLawn Lawn Care

The Importance of Fall Seeding, Core Aeration, and Fertilizing

If you want a healthy, thick lawn fall core aeration, seeding and fertilizing is key. Is it worth the cost? Yes, if it is done the proper way!

Core Aeration

Core Aeration is the process where a ground-driven machine, using spikey hollow tubes spaced evenly across a rotating flange, dig into the soil. This allows the unit to move over your lawn, removing plugs. The holes left behind allow air, water, and nutrients to reach deep into the ground, promoting turf root growth, and reducing soil compaction. The holes left behind will soon decompose and provide additional nutrients for your lawn. For the best possible results, we use a ride-on tractor with a thousand-pound press, ensuring deep penetration. A walk-behind aerator does not puncture the ground deep enough.

Pro-Tip

Before aerating, make sure you remove any obstacles that may be present. If you have any in-ground irrigation system, be sure to mark all sprinkler heads as the aerator can severely damage the sprinkler heads.

Seeding and Fertilizing

While completing the core aeration, seeding and fertilizing is key. After the core aeration, you will have a good site for seed germination. We recommend seeding during the cool season, allowing for the best possible germination. Mostly around late August, September, and early October. There are a few concerns we make sure not to do. First, we never apply a crabgrass preventer as this product will keep your grass seed from germinating as well. Secondly, we cannot apply a weed control for dandelions, clover, or other weeds until the new seed has germinated and has been mowed three or four times. Light, frequent watering is the best for new seed. If you plan to have your whole lawn seeded, we highly recommend you water all you can for the best results. We only select from our vendors seed varieties that are disease and drought-resistant that are exceptionally durable and get a dark green color. Adaptability is everything and the types of seeds that we choose for your property will be as adaptable as possible for your lawns specific requirements.

Stages of Grass Seed Germination

Pro-Tip: Mowing and more!

Allow at least a week before cutting your lawn to 2.5 – 3 inches in length. Leave the clippings on the lawn after mowing. You should also do your best to supply one inch of water to your lawn at least once every other week. We usually try to talk customers out of seeding in the spring so that the weeds can be treated and controlled throughout the spring and summer. Then, it makes sense to aerate and seed in the fall. The fertilizer you apply now and throughout the summer will help to thicken the lawn and get it in better shape for the fall.

Contact us for more!
Check out more of our Lawn Care tips on Facebook!

02 Jun 2020

Prevent lawn fungus - Bluegrass Lawn Service

By BGLawn Fungus, Lawn Care, Pro Tips

Common Types of Lawn Fungus

Are brown patches starting to pop up in your yard? You could be dealing with one of many types of lawn fungus that naturally occur in your lawn. Your lawn naturally contains millions of fungi spores, many of which never cause problems. However, things like long rainy seasons, over watering, too many cloud days, droughts, and subpar lawn care can cause the fungi can spread out of control.

What Does Lawn Fungus Look Like?

Lawn fungus, which can sometimes be misidentified as weeds, appears in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Lawn Care Tips for Preventing Lawn Fungus

Don't Cut Your Grass Too Short

Not only does it help to prevent weeds from growing, but cutting no more than one third of the length of your grass off keeps it strong and healthy. Cutting your grass too short weakens the grass, which increases the risk of a fungal disease.

Hire a Reputable Lawn Care Company

Keeping your yard healthy requires regular lawn maintenance. It’s essential your lawn care company is well aware of the types of fungal diseases that are common in your area. For over 35 years, we have kept our community's’ yards beautiful and healthy in Bucks County and the surrounding areas. Over that time, we have learned what to anticipate throughout the year and our lawn care plans reflect that!

Apply Only as Much Fertilizer as you Need

Giving your grass the nutrients it needs is key to promoting a strong root system. However, applying too much or too little fertilizer stresses the grass. A strong, healthy lawn is the best defense against fungal diseases.

Get Rid of Dead Grass

Dead grass can build up in the soil over time, which chokes out healthy grass blades and increases the risk of developing a fungal disease. Using a dethatching rake, you can remove the dead grass. However, it is time consuming process. If your yard is big, you might want to rent a power detatching rake or purchase a dethatching attachment available for some types of riding mowers.

Sharpen the Blades of Your Lawn Mower

Your lawn mower blades should be sharpened in the Spring before the mowing season starts. Dull lawn mower blades tear off the tips of your grass instead of actually cutting them. The resulting frayed grass blades are more likely to develop fungal diseases compared to clean cut, sharp blades of grass.

Quit Worrying About Lawn Fungus!

Our lawn care plans have kept our customers’ yard healthy and beautiful for over 35 years! Our experts will treat your yard to ensure it stays beautiful and disease free year-round! Explore our lawn care programs or call us today today and see why the grass is always greener at Bluegrass Lawn Service!

Get the latest tips to keeping a healthy lawn on our Facebook Page!

07 May 2020

By BGLawn Gardening, Lawn Care, Pro Tips

Get Rid of Weeds the Right Way!

Sick of seeing weeds pop up on your lawn? You’re not alone, homeowners everywhere are watching dandelions, crabgrass, and clumps of clover mess up their beautiful yard. Luckily there are several simple ways you can get rid of weeds in your yard…

What Are Weeds?

A weed is basically any unwanted plants sprouting up in your yard. These troublesome plants fall under one of three categories: broadleaf, grassy, or grass-like weeds.

Broadleaf Weeds

The leaves are broad and flat as opposed to needle-like or grassy. These plants could be dandelions, clover, ground ivy, oxalis, chickweed, dollarweed, henbit, plantain, or thistle.

Grassy Weeds

Grassy weeds look similar to grass and grow one leaf at a time. The leaves closely resemble grass blades. However, these could be crabgrass, foxtail, annual bluegrass, or quackgrass.

Grass-Like Weeds

These may look like grass blades from a distance. However, a closer look shows the leaves are triangular or tube-like and hollow, not flat like a grass blade. These weeds could be nutsedge, wild onion, or wild garlic.

How to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Yard

The best way to control weeds in your yard is with a proper lawn care schedule. Our eight treatment plan is perfect for ensuring your lawn is uninterrupted by pesky weeds. If you only have a few weeds, hand-pulling may be an option. Crabgrass, chickweed, and other annual weeds tend to have shallow roots making them easily controlled with hand-pulling. However, perennial weeds, such as dandelion and thistle, have deep roots. If you miss even a small part of the root while hand-pulling, the weed will grow back.

Preventing Weeds From Growing in Your Hard

Keeping your yard weed-free is can be a battle. However, with a proper lawn care schedule and these simple tips, you can keep your yard beautiful year-round!

Treat at the Right Time

Your lawn care schedule should include treatment for annual grassy weeds in the spring. In the spring, the seedlings are tiny and vulnerable. This makes it a great time to treat so they don’t become a problem in the summer.

Keep Your Yard Healthy Year-Round

Proper lawn care is the best defense against weeds. We have a variety of lawn care treatments backed by over 35 years of experience to keep your yard beautiful year-round. A thick and luscious lawn leaves little space for weeds to grow.

Mow Higher

Any great landscaping company will tell you: when you mow, raise the mower height. Weeds require sunlight to sprout, just like any other plant. Mowing at a taller height allows the grass to grow higher and shade the soil. As a result, the weeds are less able to sprout.

Water Your Lawn Deeper

Frequent and shallow watering encourages shallow root growth in your yard. The periods of heat and drought can cause thin, bare spots in your yard that weeds will happily sprout up in. Watering deeper, less frequently, encourages deeper grassroots. This allows the grass to grow thicker and occupy more of the space weeds normally would.

Leave it to the Experts!

With over 35 years of experience, our experts will treat your lawn regularly to ensure your lawn stays beautiful all year! Explore our lawn care programs or call us today and get rid of weeds the right way!

Get the latest lawn care tips on our Facebook Page!

06 Apr 2020

By BGLawn Lawn Care

How to Treat Your Lawn for Ticks and Other Pests

With summer approaching, many of us are looking forward to spending time outdoors with our families and pets. However, this year we have a larger population of pests in our yards to deal with. Because of that, it’s very important to understand how to treat your lawn for ticks and other pests so you can protect your family, pets, and landscaping

Why are there more pests in my yard this year?

For many of the critters making a home of our yard, the life cycle consists of being born in early spring to dying or lying dormant in the cold winters we’re accustomed to in Bucks County. For instance, ticks do not hibernate or lay dormant in the winter if the temperature is above freezing. The mild winter we had this past year in Bucks County allowed more time for pests like ticks to breed meaning we can expect a much higher population of them this year.

Why should I be worried about pests in my yard?

Many pests lurking in your yard can lead to much bigger problems. Ticks can carry many diseases that can be transmitted to both you and your pets. These include diseases such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Flea infestations end up in your drapery, carpets, furniture, and more importantly in your pets. More severe cases of flea infestation can cause anemia or even death in some cases.

How to treat your lawn for ticks and other pests

The best strategy is to be proactive, treating your yard early on and maintaining your yard regularly.

Regular Lawn Maintenance

Having tall grass helps hide ticks and fleas, allowing them an ideal environment to breed. It’s important to cut your yard to the proper length, cutting it too low will discourage the habitation of ants and spiders which feed on ticks and fleas.

Pesticides

Using a pesticide is your first line of defense against pests. It’s important to make sure that the pesticide is pet-friendly and causes minimum damage to your lawn.

Minimize Debris and Ornaments

Having debris like piles of bricks, wood, or stones allows ticks and other pests to seek refuge in. Even simple items like flowerpots or lawn ornaments in the areas where your family or pets frequents increases the chances of tick infestation.

Hire a Professional

The specific pests and how to get rid of them varies from place to place. A local lawn care expert will understand what to expect for the coming year as well as how to protect your yard and family from pests.

Bluegrass Lawn Service & Landscaping

With over 35 years of experience, we’ve seen time and time again how pest populations affect yards and families across our community. Contact us today to keep your yard safe and beautiful year-round!

Visit our Facebook for more lawn care tips!

09 Mar 2020

By BGLawn Lawn Care grub control, Lawn Care

Why You Need Grub Control this Spring…

The mild winter we’ve had in Bucks County might have seemed like a pleasant break from the usual cycle of freezing temperatures and gray skies. Most of us were too busy looking forward to warmer weather to think about what that weather means for our grub control.

However, there’s a pest lurking under the ground that loves warm temperatures as much as we do…

What are grubs? Why are they bad for my lawn?

Lawn Grubs (also known as White Grubs) are the immature form of different Scarab Beetles, such as Japanese Beetles, June bugs (beetles) or the European Chafers. These white, crescent-shaped creatures have soft bodies with legs near the head. They feed on grassroots and organic matter in the soil, causing sections of your grass to die. Eventually, grubs turn into adult beetles and emerge from the soil to mate and lay eggs.

Cold and icy winters are part of nature’s cycle for controlling these pests in Bucks County. The freezing temperatures kill off many insects that hibernate through the season, resulting in fewer pests waking up in the spring to do damage to your yard.

The problem is, the mild winter we’ve had may not have been frigid enough to kill off the hibernating grubs.

How can I tell if I need grub control?

Clear indicators of a grub problem normally do not come until fall. One indicator is brown patches of grass that can be peeled up in chunks much like a carpet. This happens because grubs eat the grassroots, so the dead grass can be easily pulled up. Sometimes you can detect sponginess before the brown patches appear. Sponginess may be the first clue that Grubs are present if your lawn is well-watered.

Using these visual clues, grubs are easy to spot close-up, as their light color is easily distinguishable against brown dirt. Most live up to two inches below the surface and a small hand tool can be used to reveal those deeper in the dirt. Any more than four grubs per square foot of grass is considered unhealthy for your lawn and extensive lawn damage could result if grub control is not implemented promptly.

How can we help?

With over 35 years of experience, we’ve provided grub control all over Bucks County and have seen first hand how mild winters affect the grub population. Let our experts keep your yard beautiful year-round, get a quote today!

06 Aug 2019

By BGLawn Uncategorized

Fall Seeding and Aeration

Do you have a thick beautiful lawn? Do you have a lawn that needs to look more beautiful, luscious, and healthy? Fall seeding, aeration and over seeding is a necessary to ensure the health of your lawn!

When should I aerate and seed my yard?

The best time for aeration is during the growing season, when the grass can heal and fill in any open areas or spots after soil plugs are removed. Typically, this is recommended from September through October. Therefore, aerating your lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or fall season and those with warm season grass in the late spring can do wonders for your lawn. Aeration and Fall Seeding are necessary to repair the wear and tear that summer damage has inflicted on your lawn. Now is the best time to rejuvenate your grass for a lawn you can be proud about and enjoy next spring.

Pro-Tip: Those warm-loving aggressive weeds are slow to germinate at this time of year so the little grass seedlings can flourish and get strong before winter arrives.

What are the benefits of Aeration and Seeding?

Aeration loosens soil, reduces compaction – allowing grass roots to reach deep for water.
Aeration penetrates soil allowing water, air & food to reach the roots while absorbed the soils needs.
Aeration enhances seed germination. Seeds germinate easily in aerator holes while obtaining all they need for growth.
Over seeding introduces new grass seed to fill-in thin areas and thicken existing grass.
Over seeding builds resistance to insect damage, as well as grass disease.
Aeration and over seeding reduces weeds which germinate in opportune weak areas so, a thick lawn is the best defense against weeds.
Aeration and over seeding improves the beauty and enjoyment of the lawn, as well as keeping it healthy through winter.

Learn more at these treatments and our collection of services to keep your yard beautiful year round!

Check out our Facebook for more tips on keeping your yard beautiful!

Family Owned and Operated for over 35 years.

10 Jun 2019

By BGLawn Fungus, General, Lawn Care Lawn Care, Lawn Service, Local, Tips

Lawn Service Near Me Benefits

There are many benefits for using a lawn service company near you. Especially if the company has been in business for a long period of time and is family owned and operated. With many benefits, such as knowledge of soil, grass and the local experience over the years. We are perfect for all customers looking to protect their lawn, trees, and shrubs. Below are some key benefits and services we offer to our Blue Grass Lawn Service family of customers.

Knowing Your Trees and Shrubs

Knowing the area and the climate we created a 9 step tree and shrub care program provides nutrients, controls damage due to insects and prevents damage due to hot, dry weather conditions. The need for expert tree and shrub care often goes overlooked, but a flourishing landscape will greatly enhance the overall health and appearance of your property while increasing its value. Blue Grass Lawn Service & Landscaping offers a range of tree and shrub care services designed to give your landscape the nutrients, protection, and conditions it needs to thrive.

Lawn Care Needs

Based on the needs of your lawn we offer a variety of optional services to extend protection and help your lawn thrive throughout the season.

Promotes strong roots and thick, beautiful turf
Improve oxygen uptake ability
Defend your yard against ticks & fleas
Prevent damage due to turf diseases
Prevent damage caused by white grubs

We are a one-stop shop for seeding, aeration, flea and tick control, grub control. With us, we are only a phone call away and we consider everyone a customer, not a number. Owner-Operator Mitch Lynd is a phone call away. Whether you are a current customer or not, Mitch is always there to answer any questions or concerns!

Facebook

Youtube – Meet Mitch Lynd

17 May 2019

By BGLawn Fungus, Pro Tips Fungus, Lawn Care, Lawn Damage, Lawn Tips, Lawn Treatment

Lawn Treatment Tips

Weather and lawn treatments go hand and hand.

Too much moisture and cloudy days allow most fungi to grow and compromise your lawn. Here at Blue Grass Lawn Service, we want to share 4 common lawn problems for you to look for that will hurt any lawn treatment.

1 Summer Patch:

Symptoms of summer patch include rings and circular patches of dead or dying turf grass. Most likely there is a center or surrounding area of healthy grass in or around what we call a doughnut style patch. Therefore, allowing those dead spots to become full of many forms of weeds. You may see this during mid-summer, after heavy rainfall or consistent rain.

2 Red Thread:

The symptoms and signs of red thread are distinctive, most common among morning dew, water from rain or irrigation issues. A coral pink or reddish layer of fungal growth knows as mycelium can be seen on leaves and sheaths. Development of this type of disease is prominent by cool, wet weather (65-70 degrees). The most obvious times you may see this is in the spring or early autumn. As most fungus Red Thread can be seen during long wet weather and damp lawns.

Pro-Tip when cutting grass while getting lawn treatments:

Lawn height while cutting is a huge factor to ensure a healthy lawn. Most professional recommendations to ensure the best and healthiest growth are as followed. During spring it is recommended to keep you lawn height at 3 ½ inches, for the summer 4 inches is recommended. Fungi and other lawn related issues are more common in areas where lawns are cut too short or “scalped”.

3 Dollar Spot:

Long periods of high humidity or frequent rainfall may cause the most severe outbreaks. Watering your lawn at the wrong time may extend or increase the incidence of disease. Therefore, the most common outbreaks occur when temperatures are moderately warm and change rapidly. Such as warm days turn into cold nights. Infected areas 4 inches or larger may run together, allowing for much larger patches. Although, patches growing to 12 feet wide are not uncommon.

4 Leaf Blight:

Leaf blights are present in every established lawn. Therefore, this lawn disease will cause serious damage during extreme weather conditions, such as frequent wet weather, high temperatures and when improper lawn practices aggravate the disease. Mostly known, mowing is the main factor for increasing the infection in several ways, wounds are made that allow easy penetration for the fungi. Especially when the leaf blades are shredded by dull mower blades and foot traffic to spread spores.

We have been providing the best services and customer care for over 30 years, Give us a call for any questions!

Contact us! Here

Facebook Blue Grass Lawn Service

22 Feb 2019

By Blue Grass Lawn Service General, Ice Melt, Landscaping, Uncategorized, Winter Damage Ice Melt, Winter

Article: Beware Of Ice Melt Damage

Applying Ice Melt to walkways and drives is a necessary and effective way to prevent slips and falls throughout the winter season but it can also cause adverse effects to lawns and landscapes. Following these steps can assist with the prevention and treatment of ice melt damage:

Blog

Read all the news about our company