All Terra Landscape of Lansing MI Blog - Landscaping and Lawn Maintenance Topics

Yes that time is almost here!  The days of shoveling snow will once again pass for a time and we will be welcoming warmer temperatures which means it will be time to prepare your landscape so it looks the best it can for the season.  Once the snow is gone, you'll want to do a spring clean up making sure to rake up old leaves, dead fallen twigs and branches as well as preparing your landscape beds for new planting or simply removing the old growth from last years perennials.  When it comes to your lawn the most important thing you can do is provide a crabgrass preventative to avoid the unsightly spread of the weed.  A good rule of thumb is to time your application at about the time that Forsythia begins to bloom typically in mid to late March depending on the weather.  Of course check your lawn mower and get it in to the repair shop early for repairs to avoid a wait.  Shops become extremely busy with the onset of warm weather.  If you need help with any of your outdoor maintenance needs, feel free to contact All Terra Landscape Services  for a free quote on landscape design, lawn mowing, lawn fertilizing, or landscape installation.   

Comments (0)     

Proper care for your lawn can be easy when following a few simple guidelines.  Like any living thing, the most important ingredients for a lush, healthy lawn is water, food and sunlight.  For a typical stand of grass, deep and infrequent is better than shallow and frequent. This will help the grass develop a deeper root zone and will help ward off pests such as chinch bugs, a pest that tends to attach to dried, stressed out lawns across the midsection of the country.  Deep watering can also prevent thatch which can choke a yard out.  Sandy soil lawns will require more water while clay soil lawns will require less since they trap more water.  Even the most healthiest lawns require at least two feedings of nitrogen per year.  At All Terra Landscape, we use a slow release fertilizer to prevent burning while giving the lawn a slow sustained feeding.  Every two or three years it can be a good idea to treat your yard with a lime application. This is because watering and fertilizing cause soil to become acidic over time and lime restores the pH while putting important minerals like calcium and magnesium back into the soil.  At All Terra Landscape, we recommend a late spring, late summer and late fall feeding.  Mowing height is extremely important in maintaining a healthy lawn.  Try not to cut your lawn less than 3"  and even higher is better!  This will help promote a deep root zone resulting in a thicker lawn helping to prevent weeds and pests.  Try not to cut more than 1/4 of the leaf blade and avoid leaving clumps of grass.  This may require mowing more than once a week if possible. Raise your mower during the hot, dry months and try to avoid mowing on extremely hot days.  These are just a few, basic tips on how to promote a happy, healthy lawn.

Comments (0)     

With so many lawn maintenance companies out there it can be difficult to choose one that is dependable.  Make sure the lawn service you choose is properly insured. Ask to see their certificate of insurance for liability and workman's comp.  If any damage is done to your property or if someone is hurt, it is important that the mowing service you hire is insured for these situations to protect yourself from law suits or loss of money.  Besides, any business licensed to do business in the State of Michigan is required by law to carry workman's comp and liability insurance which will be one difference between a professional lawn care company and a "fly by night" lawn care company.  Next, be sure to ask for a list of references that include actual locations included with the clients name.  While price is important, try not to make your choice entirely on cost alone.  The lawn maintenance business is a very competitive industry and you will always be able to find someone to do it cheaper.  We sometimes tell people that you have three choices when it comes to your lawn care: cheap lawn mowing, fast lawn mowing or quality lawn mowing,,,,choose one!  While this may sound extreme, there is some truth to it.  A lawn care company that mows your lawn cheaply will only be able to do for so long before they discover that they either have to raise the price or start cutting corners to make a profit. " Faster" mowing service can sometimes translate to "less quality" mowing service. If you can find a lawn care contractor that can mow your lawn fast and cheap while offering quality at the same time then great but make sure they know your expectations ahead of time to get the service you want.  Other things to look for is professional appearance.  Are the people mowing your lawn wearing appropriate safety equipment and uniforms?  Do you really want some sweaty guy with his shirt off on your property mowing your yard?  It's the little things that can separate a true professional lawn company from the rest.  After hiring a lawn maintenance company it should only take a couple of mowings before that company knows the layout of your property and how to mow it. For more information on our professional lawn maintenance services, please give us a call at 517 599 1446 or feel free to fill out a request for quotation at www.allterrascape.com 

Comments (1)     

Too many times I often see landscape projects that look amazing when they are installed but after a few years they are overgrown resulting in costly plant removal.  One of the most common mistakes in landscape design is not planning for the future.  A well thought, functional yet aesthetic landscape design can save you hundred's if not thousand's of dollars in the long run.  Yes, it may cost a little bit more for a succesful design from a reputable company but it is worth every penny.  Another problem can arise with hardscapes such as brick patios, walkways and retainer walls due to faulty construction.  Each area of the country requires different preparation based on the climate you are in.  In the north, the most important factor to the success of a good hardscape is the preparation of the base.  Most failures in brick paver projects are a result of not installing enough road gravel for drainage or poor compaction.  In retaining walls, you commonly see problems with not enough stone behind the wall or no stone at all.  This allows water to drain away from the wall and prevent settling.  Make sure to use drain tile no matter how small the project.  It's a great insurance policy and its cheap!  Also, with segmental retaining walls, it is important that you use the right product for your site based on wall height, slope towards the top of the wall and surcharge which is a combination of slope and weight above the wall such as a parking lot or structure.  These are just a few culprits of poor planning and construction. Good design with a reputable company is well worth it when it comes to your investment.

Comments (0)     

All Terra Landscape Services LLC offers advice on Landscape Design, Landscape Installations, Lawn Maintenance, and Snow Removal.  We have over 20 years of knowledge to offer you!  Please feel free to ask us a question!

Comments (2)