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.
by joshwise on January 30, 2012
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!
