• Fall Cleanup: Why it’s important for your lawn.

    Well, it’s that time of year again. Time to start thinking about a fall cleanup for your yard. We know there are a whole lot of other things you would probably rather do on your weekends, like watching some college football on Saturday, NFL on Sunday, or one of the new television shows in this year’s fall lineup. But, yard cleanup in the fall plays an important role in keeping pests out of your home this winter and helps you reduce pests in your yard next spring. Here are a few things you should know.

    Bugs Love Moisture

    When leaves fall from the trees and create a layer in your yard, it sets the stage for moisture issues in the fall and spring. Moisture is an attractant for a wide range of creatures. If you take the time rake your lawn routinely in the fall, you’ll make your yard a whole lot less interesting to fall pests.

    Bugs Lay Their Eggs Under Organic Debris

    Another reason to remove leaf clutter is to keep bugs from laying eggs underneath. It is okay to have scattered leaves but when leaves pile up, it is a recipe for bug population growth.

    Rodents Love Clutter

    Bugs are not the only critters that enjoy a layer of leaves. Rodents are skittish creatures that avoid open spaces. When leaves stack up in your yard, it can make rodents feel safe in your yard.

    Fungus and Mold

    Mold is a real problem, but can be mitigated by removing the leaves from your lawn before the snow packs it down and mats the grass blades. Your lawn needs to breath so to give your lawn a leg up next spring, be sure to remove as many of the leaves as possible prior to the first snowfall of the season.

    Devoting a little extra time to cleaning up and maintaining your yard this fall will make all the difference next spring.

    Oh, and if you prefer to stay inside and watch that Sunday football game. No problem. Just call us and we’ll take care of that for you. Just give us a call (973) 822-8931.

  • Time to get your Lawn & Garden Ready for Winter

    Winter has come and the landscape is quietly going to sleep for the winter.  That makes January the ideal time to put your garden to rest for the season. To get your landscaping off to a healthy start next spring here are a few tips to give your landscaping a head start this spring:

    • Pull out and dispose of your summer annuals.
    • Cut back your perennials and divide as necessary.
    • Remove thatch, moss, leaves and other organic matter from your lawn and give it a winter fertilizer treatment.
    • Apply an anti-desiccant to your evergreen shrubs to protect them from ‘Winter Burn’.

    Properly putting your landscape to bed for the winter can save you extra work, and money, next spring!  If you need a professional fall clean-up, pruning, fertilizer application or any other service call us at (973) 822-8931 for a free estimate.

  • WHY IS SEPTEMBER SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME TO CARE FOR YOUR LAWN?

    Traditionally, September is considered the most important month for care of our cool season lawns, bluegrass and tall fescue. These grasses thrive in the cool of the spring and fall, and stress or even go into dormancy in the dog days of summer. The arrival of September with the milder conditions, helps revive the summer stressed turf. It naturally wants to grow and thrive. This is why it is important we give the grass what it needs to fully recover from the stress of summer.

    TIME TO SEED

    September is not only good for fertilizing it is also the ideal time to sow new grass seed. September conditions are perfect with warm soils, bright sunshine and cooler nights to establish a new lawn. Successful lawn seeding does require a little thought and a few guidelines to follow. It is not as simple as just throwing out seed and letting nature take its course.

    Successful over seeding requires good soil preparation to help improve the contact between the small seeds and the soil. The ideal way to prepare the soil for seeding is to core aerate. As the spindles cut and remove soil ‘plugs’ from the lawn it opens the root system up and allows the seeds to fall and eventually be covered up when the plugs break down, for good germination.

    TIPS

    Before aerating, mow the turf lower and make sure there is good soil moisture so the tines can penetrate the soil. After that you are ready to seed. Then comes the hard part of making sure the seedbed is moist at all times. Grass seeding requires dedication to watering as it takes even moisture to get a good stand of grass. Most grass seed will germinate within one to two weeks of seeding, and then the amount of water can be reduced.

    Seeding is also more successful with an application of a starter type fertilizer. Instead of the high nitrogen application recommended, use a more balanced fertilizer or one with more phosphorus such s 10-20-10. Research has shown that phosphorus placed at the point of germination speeds up establishment. But remember for most lawns the phosphorus is only needed when seeding. Be careful not to starve your lawn with too little nitrogen. A month after the new grass has germinated apply a high nitrogen fertilizer to push the grass for quicker establishment before the arrival of cooler fall and winter temperatures.

  • Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

    Choose your color palette prior to planting, to ensure the colors work with each other and the exterior of your home. Too many colors or too much of one color can be overwhelming, while too little may appear boring. Factor in seasonal color variations by researching flowering shrubs and variations in foliage prior to installation.

    Avoid the pitfalls of DIY landscaping by hiring the trained experts at DeMartinis Landscaping for all your residential or commercial landscaping needs. Your yard isn’t the only place where accidents happen; if you need professional design assistance or remediation due to excessive ground water, call the experts at DeMartinis Landscaping for effective and efficient property drainage services you can count on.