Most homeowners know what services are necessary for good Atlanta lawn care: proper mowing, aeration, overseeding, adequate hydration and fertilizer. Aeration is one of the most beneficial Atlanta lawn care services, especially if you live in an area that experiences episodes of little to no rainfall. Aerating your Atlanta lawn will allow the water from your irrigation system to reach the grass roots directly and be immediately absorbed. However, even though aeration ensures that your Atlanta lawn and soil are manipulated, you should go one step further and also have your soil periodically tested by a Atlanta lawn care professional.

A soil test is a fairly simple procedure and many Atlanta lawn care companies offer the service for free in conjunction with their Atlanta lawn care programs. The Atlanta lawn care technician will take a small soil sample and have it sent to a lab. A qualified soil expert will examine the sample and look at the pH level (acidity); the presence or absence of such macronutrients as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen; the presence or absence of such micronutrients as iron, calcium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper and other nutrients that deter weed growth and enhance the Atlanta lawn’s resistance to insect and disease infestations; the soil type, which can help your Atlanta lawn care technician create a preventative plan to reduce the incidence of compaction; and levels of decomposed plant material, also known as thatch.

Once the results are back, your Atlanta lawn care specialists can consult with you on what the best plan of action is regarding your Atlanta lawn care regimen. To schedule a soil analysis, call your local Atlanta lawn care company today.

If there’s a construction slowdown in Atlanta, somebody forgot to tell the fire ants. The tell-tale red mounds are popping up all over Atlanta lawns this season.  They can grow over a foot high and expand several feet in diameter, marring your lawn, and presenting a challenge to your Atlanta landscape. Each mound houses thousands of ants, and the colony grows daily.

That’s the good news. If you have visible mounds on your Atlanta lawn, it’s likely that you also have them in places where you can’t see them like under wood piles, rocks, logs or other static objects in your landscape.

In addition to being a nuisance and giving your lawn a less than tidy look, fire ants can harmful to children and animals that may walk through the mounds accidently, or may be tempted to play with them. When fire ants are disturbed, they swarm, biting the victim and causing a sensation that feels as if one has been burned by fire, thus their name, fire ants.

Where fire ants can really wreak havoc on your Atlanta landscape is by weakening the roots of shrubs and other plants as they tunnel under in their travels.  Because this occurs underground and out of sight, the damage can be done before you even know they are present.

In addition to the spot treatment for fire ants that we provide as a part of every Atlanta lawn care application that we perform, GrassRoots also offers a one-time treatment to keep pesky fire ants off your lawn year-round. This treatment saves you from having to store products throughout the year and from the task of trying to keep up with new mounds as they form. It’s also the best way of as safeguarding your pets and children from wrath of fire ants.

Top Choice, the product we use, contains Fipronil as its active ingredient. This is the same product that’s used by veterinarians everywhere to control ticks and fleas so you can rest assured that it’s completely safe to both animals and humans.

If fire ants are a problem in your Atlanta lawn and landscape, give us a call at 770.917.8200. We’ll be glad to provide a solution for protecting your landscape as well as the special people and pets in your life!

Mother Nature is up to her old tricks again in Atlanta. One week it feels like early spring with the daylilies threatening to come up, and the next week we’re preparing for snow. Though most plants can handle the freezing mark for a few days in a row, some will need extra care to prevent damage.

A gradual decrease in temperatures allows plants to adjust, but a sudden drop can sometimes cause damage to even hardy plants. Fortunately in Georgia, we don’t usually have to deal with temperatures at or below freezing for long periods of time, but when we do, your Atlanta landscape may need a little extra TLC.

The best way to prepare your Atlanta Landscape for cold temperatures is to have healthy plants to start with. Healthy plants withstand the cold much better than unhealthy ones. Also, it’s best not to trim trees and shrubs in the winter. Trimming stimulates new growth which is more vulnerable to the cold.

Potted plants can be protected by bringing them into a basement or a garage until the cold front passes. Potted plants that are too large can be covered in plastic or sheets during the night and then uncovered during the day for sunlight. If the covering material is too heavy, you may have to erect some type of structure to keep the covering from crushing the plant. For smaller plants, a cardboard box can also work as a cover. Mulch will also reduce heat loss.

Some of the plants that need to be protected include: Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas and early flowering plants. Roses can be protected by using mulch and fruit trees will do well if you can wrap the base of their trunks with a towel.

If when looking around at your Atlanta lawn you see a plant that looks as if it’s been damaged by the cold temperatures, don’t be too quick to dig it up. Many plants may look bad on the surface but their root structure is healthy and intact and they will likely regenerate in the spring. But not until it starts warming up outside will you know for sure if a plant will make a comeback after the winter season.

With winter upon us, most of the Atlanta lawn care duties that took up a fair amount of time in the warmer months will no longer be necessary until the ground starts to warm up again. Having used your mower for the last time until spring, there are steps that should be taken to winterize your mower before putting it into storage.

Gas left in the mower can clog the carburetor as it ages spelling trouble down the road. If you store your mower in a basement, let it run until all the gas has been used. If you store it in a garage, you can simply add stabilizer to the gas. You will find gas stabilizer at DIY stores in the lawn and landscaping department.

Next, it’s a good idea to make sure both the deck and the underside of the mower are free of any debris or grass clippings. While the deck is easy to clean, the underside may require a little more effort, but it’s necessary as grass clippings can become trapped and clog the system. When cleaning, take note of any areas where the paint may be chipped so that they can be painted and sealed to avoid rust.

Changing the oil is another step that should be taken to ensure your mower will be in tip-top shape for your Atlanta lawn care and maintenance duties in the spring. It is also a good time to clean or replace the air and fuel filters if your mower has these.

While your equipment is out of commission and you aren’t too busy with your Atlanta lawn care tasks, there are a few maintenance items that aren’t mandatory, but performing them will help extend the life of your mower and aid in getting it ready for heavy use again. Unlike car batteries, running the mower’s engine will not do anything to charge the battery, so it’s a good idea to charge the battery during the winter so it will operate optimally in the spring. Also, after a long cutting season, the blades will need to be sharpened. And finally, prior to emptying the gas, remove the spark plug(s) and put engine oil in the hole where the spark plug(s) reside. Use the rope to crank the mower so the oil can work its way through. Put the spark plug back into place when you are ready to use the mower again in the spring.

With a little bit of elbow grease and time invested, you can ensure that your mower enjoys a long and productive run.

The Atlanta landscape design is glistening with lights and glitter for Christmas. As the winter sets in and our Atlanta landscape goes dormant, Christmas displays bring life to our outdoor spaces and allow homeowners to express their individual style. Electrical lighting plays a big part in the outdoor Christmas decorating scheme, and according to some sources, it has been used since as early as 1912.

Be it nostalgia from their youth, a desire to be more “green” or simply the ability to add to the beauty of their Atlanta landscape, there is an appeal for some people to buy a “live” tree (root ball and all) to use as their indoor tree, and then to later transplant it to outdoors after the New Year. While there may be shrubs and trees in your yard already in place to decorate, the addition of an actual “Christmas tree” will make next year’s outdoor decorating even more fun.

A few types of trees that will thrive best when used as inside Christmas trees this season and then planted outdoors in your Atlanta Landscape to decorate as outside trees next year are: Murray Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Virginia Pine, White Pine and Arizona Cypress. Though Fur, Scotch Pine and Spruce are Christmas tree favorites for many, in Georgia, they’ve proven to do well only in the extreme North Georgia region and other areas more northward than Atlanta.

Here are some tips for successfully planting the tree in your Atlanta landscape after the holiday:

First, placement of the tree is an important consideration. You will want to consider the location of electrical outlets for putting lights on the tree when you decorate it as an outdoor tree next season. Next, if you can dig a hole that will not be hazardous to persons or pets in the yard, it might be a good idea to do so before Christmas while the weather is warmer and the ground isn’t frozen. The hole should be very close in size to the root ball. Be sure when you are digging that you don’t hit cable or utility lines. This is especially important if you will be using landscaping equipment to accomplish this task. It is also important to make sure the roots of the tree stay moist while it is being used as an inside Christmas tree.

When putting the tree in the ground, make sure it is straight before replacing and packing the soil. Some experts agree that it is a good idea to trim the tree by about 1/3 so that the roots system is adequate for handling the tree’s adjustment period back into the ground. During the planting process, be sure to add moisture to the ground and continue to water so that the roots get proper nutrients. Also, a layer of mulch will help ensure that good moisture levels are retained and will also give your Atlanta landscape a more professional look.

As with any tree or shrub, it’s important to check the new planting periodically for signs of fungus, disease or pest infestation as part of your normal Atlanta lawn care and maintenance plan. If you suspect any of these issues, call a professional so a solution can be started before the problem gets out of control.

Finally, have fun with it. The tree that brought you memories this year inside your home will be something wonderful to share with neighbors and passers-by for years to come!

As our landscape turns from the brilliant colors of fall to winter dormancy, many homeowners look forward to the opportunity to enliven their Atlanta landscape with Christmas decorations including outdoor lighting. Not only do outdoor decorations add color at a time when your Atlanta lawn needs it most, they also bring about holiday spirit.

To enjoy a beautiful and safe holiday season, here are some simple tips and reminders for decorating your Atlanta lawn and landscape:

• Always test lights first before hanging. This will save you the trouble of either having to take lights down or figuring out how to manage bulb maintenance in high, tight or hard to reach places after the lights have gone up.
• Replacing burned out or broken bulbs is important. Burned out bulbs force more electricity to the working bulbs, which may cause them to burn out faster or could even lead to a blown fuse.
• Always use a GFI outdoor outlet that is covered and protected from moisture. Running wires from inside the home to the outside is dangerous because it can cause overload, can be a tripping hazard with cords running in the floor or through doorways, and electrical wires may become damaged where they make contact with windows or doors.
• While LED lights are more expensive, they conserve energy and generally last longer. Mini-lights use less energy than the larger C9 or C7 bulbs, but my not last as long. For that reason, it’s smart to buy minis in sets of 50 so they can be easily replaced if a strand goes bad.
• If your decorating task requires the use of a ladder, always make sure the ladder is on a stable, even surface and have someone hold it for you while you are working.
• When hanging lights on the gutters or the house, use plastic clips that are sold at most Do-it-Yourself stores. Stapling and nailing may cause damage to the cords presenting a fire hazard.
• Always use items that were made for outdoor use including outdoor lights, outdoor extension cords and timers that were made for outdoor use.
• The use of a timer to turn the lights off at bedtime will save you on your energy bills and help your bulbs last longer. Also, your neighbors will appreciate not having the lights disrupt their sleep.
• Always keep animals and young children away from electrical cords as they can pose a shock hazard.

Above all, have fun and seize the opportunity to be creative and show your style!

You are really looking forward to sprucing up your lawn this year and have decided to add fertilizer into your lawn care regimen, but you might be wondering which is better: liquid or granular fertilizer?

The choice between liquid and dry fertilizers may depend on what lawn care goals you hope to achieve this season. If you have a persistent weed problem, then liquid fertilizer may be the way to go. Some fertilization treatments include pre- and post-emergent weed control elements and when they come in liquid form, they are absorbed more quickly, producing faster results. Lawn care specialists also suggest that liquid fertilization treatments are better for the environment because the fertilizer does not spread all over your landscape like granular treatments.

Liquid fertilizer has the benefit of taking less time to be effective. In order for granular fertilization to work properly, there must be adequate moisture. If you’re having a dry season, the results may not be as successful as with liquid fertilizer.

There are some lawn care experts who suggest using a combination of dry and liquid fertilizer for optimal results. When you begin to fertilize in the spring, the weather is typically wetter than in the late summer and early fall months. You can take advantage of this moisture and use granular fertilizer to jumpstart your lawn. The warmer months typically produce less rainfall, so liquid fertilizer is more ideal during this period, along with proper hydration.

For the best results, contact your local lawn care company and leave it up to the professionals. Employing a lawn care company often allows you to expect higher quality results.

Lawn care involves many steps, but perhaps none is as important as proper hydration. After all, a Atlanta lawn cannot grow without water. Adequately hydrating your Atlanta lawn is not an exact science, but it is close. The best plan is to install a sprinkler system that ensures your Atlanta lawn is watered every day at the same time. Sprinkler systems with a timer are even more ideal, but you still have several options there. Lawn care specialists highly recommend pulsating sprinklers for the best results.

Pulsating sprinkler systems spray water into the air and allow the water to fall back down to the ground in a fine mist. There are five different types of pulsating sprinklers: impulse, traveling, stationary, oscillating and rotary. Impulse sprinklers are the top choice of Atlanta lawn care professionals who need to water a larger area such as an entire landscape or vast Atlanta lawn.

It is important to know if you have high or low water pressure, as that also factors in to which type of pulsating sprinkler you choose for your Atlanta lawn care needs. If you have low water pressure, an H-base is a better choice than a spike-based sprinkler which is better suited for high pressure.

Pulsating sprinklers have the benefit of being designed with gusty winds in mind, as well as low-hanging trees or tall shrubs. The height of the water spray can be adjusted accordingly and since the water is typically sprayed close to the ground, its spray is unaffected by the wind.

If you think a pulsating sprinkler may be beneficial to your Atlanta lawn, contact your local Atlanta lawn care company. Many Atlanta lawn care providers also install irrigation systems, especially since proper hydration makes their job that much easier!

Mowing might seem like the simplest of lawn care tasks, but it is actually quite important to know how to properly mow your lawn to ensure the best results. Over-mowing or mowing at the wrong times or height can have detrimental effects on your lawn. Here are some lawn care tips on proper mowing procedures.

Most lawns are dormant during the winter months, so once spring rolls around, it is time to drag the mower out and get back into the routine. But when you should begin mowing? Lawn care technicians recommend keeping the mower stored away until the ground is thoroughly thawed. Once the ground is soft, that means that grass is growing and mowing it will not cause any damage to the crowns or the shoots.

Most people know that allowing the excess clippings to remain on the lawn is beneficial because as the clippings deteriorate, they become natural fertilizer for the soil below. However, for the first few cuts, attach the bag and gather the clippings. Allow your lawn to grow and breathe without the weight of clippings on top of it.

Lawn care professionals recommend mowing your lawn at a slightly shorter height than you may typically have your mower set. If you normally mow at three inches, take it down to two. This will allow your lawn better stimulation to get the season started off right.

If you have any questions about spring mowing, contact your local lawn care professionals.

The temperature hasn’t been consistently cold yet, and  already you are missing some of the simple joys of your Atlanta landscape. One of the best parts of summer, besides homegrown tomatoes, is the harvesting of fresh spices from your own spice garden to use in recipes. Sure you could visit the spice  department at your local grocery store and find what you need, but if you’ve ever used fresh spices, you know they have a much more distinct flavor than the dried variety.

While it’s true that many herbs do not do well in your Atlanta landscape during hard frost, there is no reason why you can’t grow them indoors for use throughout the winter months, and then transplant them to your garden later in the spring.

Some of the herbs that grow well inside include: Arugula, Basil, Bay, Chamomile, Chive, Oregano, Dill, Parsley, Rosemary, Chervil and Coriander.

There are several ways to get started on an indoor spice garden. Planting seeds can give you a great sense of accomplishment as you see them sprout and progress. More advanced gardeners can root from existing plants, and those with less patience can buy potted plants at a nursery.

One of the most important factors in achieving success with an indoor herb garden is to have a window or window sill area that is sunny 6 to 8 hours a day. A few herbs can tolerate part sun, but most prefer full sun. Sunrooms are a great place to locate your indoor spice garden.

2 parts potting soil to 1 part sand is a good mix for growing herbs indoors. The soil should stay moist but be well-drained. The air inside your home can get dry because the heater is on causing the leaves of the plants to dry out. Because the oil in the leaves of most herbs is what contributes heavily to the flavor and aroma, it is necessary to keep the plants well-hydrated, which may require misting.

When harvesting spices for use in cooking, the early tender leaves are usually the best. Homegrown herbs that are dried and put away can be used for up to two years and still retain their potency. This is true whether they are grown indoors or outside as part of your Atlanta landscape design.

Growing herbs indoors can be an easy-to-manage and fun project, which enhances the taste of your winter comfort foods.  Children and grandchildren can even get involved in the plant care and harvesting of the spices. When spring comes, you can enhance your Atlanta landscape by transplanting your herbs to a bed or garden.