oliveralandscape.com's Ten Most Commonly Asked Questions

The experts at oliveralandscape.com receive questions of every kind relating to proper lawn and garden care. Here are quick answers to the ten most commonly asked lawn and garden questions.

What can I do about lawn damage caused by my dog?
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix when it comes to brown spots caused by dog urine. But you can help to avoid this damage in the future with heavy watering, and a little baking soda. Heavy watering will help to dilute the concentration of nitrogen in your yard, and adding baking soda to a watering can full of water will help to neutralize the area.

How do I deal with mushrooms?
There are no chemical treatments available for the control of mushrooms or toadstools. Mushrooms arise from decaying organic matter under the soil and the remains of old trees are the most common cause. Although there is no chemical treatment available, there are a few options. You can try to dig up the decaying organic matter or destroy the mushrooms with a rake or lawn mower. You can also try to wait out the problem (until the buried organic matter disappears).

How do I get rid of moss?
Your best defense against moss is a healthy lawn. Moss is a sign that the grass is thinning. There are many causes for thinning grass: low pH level, not enough sun, fertilizer or water. Cutting the lawn too short can also allow moss to sneak in. Make sure you are properly watering and fertilizing. Leave the grass height to 2-3 inches and avoid over watering. Water deeper and less often. Once moss is actively growing you can try chemicals that kill actively growing moss.

What is the most effective way to kill ground ivy?
Control is most effective in the early spring, before the plants have gotten too big. Rake and mow early in the season. You can dislodge Creeping Charlie's rooting stems from the ground with a rake. After raking make sure to mow low, and then rake up and dispose of the stems (severed stems can re-root). Another way to rid your lawn of Creeping Charlie is through the use of weed killers. There are products available that can be applied to your entire lawn and chemicals that can be used to spot treat the problem, although this weed tends to respond slowly to spot treatments.

What should I do if my lawn is overrun with crabgrass?
Crabgrass grows vigorously in hot weather. A dense lawn is better able to resist an invasion of crabgrass so be sure to properly water and fertilize your lawn. Another way to discourage the growth of Crabgrass is by mowing higher. The higher grass can help to shade and prevent the germination of crabgrass seeds. You can also try herbicides to control the crabgrass in your yard. Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied before daytime temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees. You can apply post-emergent herbicides on actively growing crabgrass when temperatures are above 70 degrees. You should not apply post-emergent herbicides if temperatures are expected to be above 90 degrees or if rainfall is expected within 24 hours.

How often should I fertilize?
Most lawns need to be fertilized 2-3 times a year. Fertilizing should begin with your first mowing; and finish when the grass is done growing for the year.

Why do I need to lime my lawn and how often does it need to be done?
Lime is added to a lawn to adjust the soil's pH level. The pH level can affect the grass plants ability to absorb nutrients necessary to grow properly. Your soil's pH level should range between 5.5 and 7.5. Lime should be added if your pH level is below the desired range. Typically, lime is added once or twice a growing season.

How do I rid my lawn of grubs?
The easiest way to rid your lawn of grubs is to use a product designed to kill lawn insects. This should be applied between July and September when grubs are the most susceptible to insect controls.

What are the benefits of a mulching mower?
Mulching mowers return grass clippings to your lawn. Benefits include: a healthier lawn (clippings serve as fertilizer and help retain and conserve needed moisture), time savings (you do not have to stop to empty the mower bag and do not need to fertilize as often), cost savings (you save on both clipping disposal and fertilizer costs). If you mow on a regular basis, a mulching mower will be very beneficial to your lawn.

When and how often should I water my lawn?
Most lawns require about one inch of water a week. The best time to water is early in the day, watering at night puts your lawn at risk for developing mildew and fungus disease.