Lawn Care Tips

Although summer is over and yard work is less demanding, don’t forget about the end of summer weed control. You can help diminish the pesky weeds by doing some fall work to slow the weeds down before spring arrives. Most weed seeds travel by wind. After seeds land in your yard, it may take several seasons before they take hold in your well-manicured lawn. Some weeds thrive once the overnight temperatures drop into the 60s or 70s. It’s almost as though they know you’ve turned your back, and you’re tired of yard work. There are several ways to slow the introduction of pesky weeds before they get a firm hold. 410 Lawn Guy can take care of your fall preparation yard work, so you don’t have to. Best Time To Spray For Weeds Spring is the best time for weed control, but fall is second in line. If you spray for weeds in the fall, weeds will have difficulty surviving until spring. There are a plethora of products on the market for weed control. Picking the suitable herbicide for the season and type of weeds you’re combating can be overwhelming. Tips for the end of summer weed control include tips

All dedicated gardeners want to know when the optimal time is to harvest your garden. Vegetables have different harvest timetables for ensuring the most delicious produce. You’ve worked hard to get your garden where it is. You may have even gotten a head start with seeds while the weather was still too cool for outdoor planting. Planting seedlings indoors to prepare for spring can benefit certain vegetables while not others. If you have the time, space for indoor seedlings, and gardening enthusiasm won’t let you wait, try peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, and broccoli. At 410 Lawn Guy, we understand the importance of a beautiful landscape and enjoying a stellar garden. Read on for some pointers for picking some produce favorites at the best times. Tomato Harvesting Pointers The sheer ecstasy of biting into a perfectly ripened, homegrown tomato is one of the greatest pleasures on earth. Picking them too early, while still tasty, doesn’t do it. Did you plant cherry tomatoes? Those sweet little morsels might not even make it into the kitchen. Cherry tomatoes are pretty prolific, come in numerous colors, and often reseed themselves the following season from fruit that fell unnoticed. Heirloom tomatoes also come in a plethora

You can expect burned lawns in our climate, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. As we get closer to the hottest days of summer here in Maryland, you may have noticed your lawn getting drier and more brown. Here are some tips on how to prevent burned lawns and ways to heal and treat yours if it’s already burned. How To Prevent Burned Lawns Burned lawns often happen because of a too heavy or light application of fertilizers and pesticides, improper watering, poor drainage, or scorching summer sun. Here are some tips for preventing burned lawns: One way to prevent a burned lawn is to ensure it gets at least an inch of water each week If you apply fertilizers or pesticides, follow the package instructions to avoid being too heavy or light on the application Minimize foot traffic across the lawn on hot and dry days Use the highest position on your lawn mower to allow grass to grow deep roots Avoid using weed-and-feed products in temperatures above 85 degrees How To Treat Burned Lawns Even with the best effort, you can still have a burned lawn, especially when dealing with endless scorching summer days.

Have you ever been in a neighbor’s yard and heard the question, “How short should I cut my grass?” This question has been asked and debated at backyard barbecues dating back to the first lawns. Although everyone has an opinion, there is fact-based knowledge to back the length you cut your lawn to keep it at its healthiest. Most people set the blade on the mower height, start it up, and mow their lawn without another thought. Then there’s the die-hard, my lawn has to be perfect, type of person. They will likely have an opinion on the proper height of a freshly cut lawn. If you are unsure what kind of grass you have, call 410 Lawn Guy. We can let you know what type of grass you have and how high to cut your lawn. Because multiple grass varieties thrive differently depending on the height of the cut, it’s essential to know your grass type. Why Does It Matter How Short I Cut My Grass A healthy lawn needs mowing regularly. Unfortunately, for the healthiest lawn, the mowing schedule will vary based on weather and the type of grass. Suppose you cut your grass too short in anticipation

Watering your lawn and plants pose the question, how much and how often should you give them a drink to keep them healthy? It’s tricky to factor in rain, heat, and your irrigation system. You also need to consider the time of day, how often to water, and which plants will need some extra tender, loving care. Your landscaping is one of the first things people notice when they pull up to your house. Keeping it healthy, vibrant, and lovely to look at is a good investment. When you pull up to your home at the end of a long day, a well-maintained lawn and planter beds will bring a smile to your face. Curb appeal has value even if you’re not putting your house on the market. Finding the right balance for watering lawns and plants is essential. If you need a professional opinion or a company to take this task off your hands, call 410 Lawn Guy. We’ll keep your yard in top shape, so you don’t have to. Setting an Irrigation Clock for Watering Your  Lawn and Plants If you live in an area that doesn’t get much rain, you’ll want to set your irrigation clock to

If No Mow May is a new phrase for you, you’re not alone. At 410 Lawn Guy, we want to rescue you from yard work and keep your lawn in top shape. We’re also interested in doing our part for the planet. That’s where No Mow May comes in. There are simple things we can do to help with conservation initiatives. Although the general concept is not to mow your lawn during the month of May, that may not work for everyone. However, you can exercise other options to help Mother Earth. Benefits of No Mow May Wisconsin Public Radio reports that Appleton, Wisconsin started No Mow May two years ago. After the homeowners signed up for the initiative, they waived the ordinance requiring homeowners to maintain their lawns to increase bee and other pollinator populations. Not only can you help the planet, but you can slack off on the mowing and feel good about seeing dandelions and clover flowers popping up on your lawn. Bees are starting to come out of hibernation. Giving them a bit of a kickstart will help the much-needed bee population thrive. Is the Bee Population a Serious Problem? At 410 Lawn Guy, we want

You just turned on your sprinkler system, and water is shooting out of several areas, but not in a good way. It’s time for a sprinkler system repair. There are many reasons your irrigation system can fail. If the winter was exceptionally rugged, your pipes might be paying the price. If tackling a sprinkler system repair isn’t in your wheelhouse, call 410 Lawn Guy. We’ll send out a professional technician to assess your issues, make recommendations and give you an estimate. How Do I Troubleshoot a Sprinkler System Repair Troubleshooting your irrigation system can be complicated. Who installed the system? Was it you? The previous owner? Or did someone hire an unlicensed company? If the answer to those three questions is yes, you need to go another route. How large is your lawn? How many zones do you have? You need to check each zone separately to ensure you maintain a beautiful lawn and planter beds. Each area needs to have water applied evenly over the lawn areas. Overwatering, as well as underwatering, can kill a lawn and those beautiful flowers you just planted. Signs You Need Sprinkler System Repairs Here are some signs that will point to needing repairs:

Spring has sprung, and you need to get your spring lawn start-up questions answered. Having a beautiful lawn is the first thing people see when they pull up to your house. 410 Lawn Guy can take care of bringing your yard to life and keeping it in stellar shape all season long. Several things need to happen to awaken your lawn and encourage healthy growth. Whether you are a DIY person or prefer to let the professionals take care of it, we’re here to give you the information you need to see to it that those blades of grass are happy and vibrant. Let’s Answer Your Spring Lawn Start-Up Questions Before you jump out there and start mowing your lawn, there are several things you should do to ensure the results are going to get your spring lawn off to a good start. Your mower has been hibernating and will need some tender loving care to get it spring-ready. Take it to a sunny spot and inspect it while it gets a chance to take the chill off. Trying to start a cold motor can be problematic. By giving the fluids a chance to warm up, you’ll have a better

Snow removal can be a hassle. We’re in the dead of winter, and it’s okay to admit you’re sort of over it. Like you, we’re itching to get back out there, get our hands in the dirt, and help you get your lawn looking its best. But first? Snow. (Insert eye-rolls here). Although 410 Lawn Guy cares for your lawn and beyond in the warmer months, we want you to be safe and healthy during these winter months as well. And part of that means removing the snow in your driveway with efficiency. Shoveling Suppose you have a good old fashioned shovel and aren’t interested in investing in a snow blower. In that case, we applaud your gritty work ethic. Shoveling is a great way to clear a small driveway not buried in several inches of heavy, wet snow. Depending on the type of snow and how much has fallen, you can opt to do small sections in layers or push your shovel along the concrete, acting as a manual snow plow. This obviously won’t work for heavy snow. A plastic, wide shovel is your best bet for clearing a driveway so that the shovel won’t catch on the concrete.

Tips to Plan For Your 2022 Vegetable Garden Start planting indoors to prepare for Spring. Planting your own vegetables and feeding them to your family is a pretty rewarding experience. More and more people are returning to this practice in their backyards. In fact, vegetable gardening hasn’t gained this much popularity since the Victory Gardens of the early and mid-1900s. Leave it to a global pandemic to push people to be more self-sufficient and frugal. Whether you’re looking for a stress-relieving hobby or you want to start saving money on groceries, growing your own vegetables is an accomplishment that will make you proud of your efforts. The great thing about gardening is you can do it year-round. Even in the winter months near the D.C. area, when we can’t plant outdoors, we can be indoors getting our seeds started (as we stare out the window, wringing our hands, waiting for spring…). Since we have a shorter growing season than warmer climates, starting seeds indoors is a wise choice to give plants a head start. How to Plant Indoors to Prepare for Spring Do your research on what seeds you’d like to plant. There is more variety when it comes to

Though it’s still cold here in the Washington, D.C. area, spring will be here before we know it. To help you with warm thoughts during these chilly days, consider taking some time to pre-plan your spring flowerbeds. Determine Your Budget While it’s easy to let your mind run wild, it’s time to be realistic. Installing flowerbeds and completing landscaping projects take time, but they can also cost a substantial amount of money. This is especially true if you don’t pre-plan your budget. Before planning out your flowerbeds, determine how much you can spend on the project. If you’re planning on DIYing this project, you’ll have more room in your budget for plants, mulch, soil, and tools you might need. If you’re going to hire the pros—like the ones at 410 Lawn Guy in Gambrills, Maryland—your budget may need to be larger and won’t stretch as far. Plan Out Your Flowerbeds Now that you’ve got your budget laid out, it’s time to plan out your flowerbeds. Do you have a goal for your beds, like adding more curb appeal to your home, upgrading your existing beds, or adding in brand new raised beds? Whatever you decide, now is the time to

Though we just got hit with several inches of snow in most parts of Maryland, it actually has been a warm winter in the last few years past. While snow lovers may relish the first real snowfall in recent memory, others are burrowing under blankets just waiting for spring to come. Whether you love a warm winter or wish for colder days, mild winters like we’ve become used to having can wreak havoc on the coming seasons. Here are some downsides to a warm winter and why we should be happy each year when the cold filters in. Early and Persistent Pests Have you noticed what feels like an overabundance of itchy pests, like mosquitos, ticks, and fleas, these last few summers? Mild winter weather could be the cause. Freezing winter temps usually keep bugs at bay, killing them off, so they have to wait until spring to thaw and multiply. A warm-weather season allows bugs to continue breeding without a break, bringing more pests and bringing them out earlier in the summer. This could also mean trouble for your plants, with pests getting to them when they’re young and delaying their growth cycles. Plant Cycles Thrown Off If pests

It’s winter! That means you it’s time to take care of your winter lawn. You can forget about your lawn for a few months, right? Well, at 410 Lawn Guy, we’d have to disagree with you there. Your yard needs to be maintained all year round if you want to make the most of it during the spring and summer months. We’ve compiled a winter lawn checklist to help you out during the next few months. Of course, your lawn maintenance will depend on the climate, too, so we’ve organized the blog by both hot and cold seasonal temperatures. By undertaking these tasks, you should be able to maintain a lawn that thrives all year round! Read ahead for our blog on your winter lawn checklist by 410 Lawn Guy. Winter Checklist for Snow Climates If you live in the northern United States or Canada, chances are your winter is full of cold temperatures and snow. These freezing temperatures can be incredibly challenging for your lawn, so it’s essential to understand what tasks you need to do to maintain your yard all year round. Follow this checklist for a winter lawn in colder climates: Remove your dead leaves by either

Rake or Mulch Leaves? That is the Question Should you rake or mulch your leaves? Which is better? It’s coming up to the end of the year. For many of us, it’s time to look ahead and prepare for what 2022 will bring. This is especially true for those that take pride in and love gardening – the promise of Spring and all that it entails is an exciting thought. One of the ways that many gardeners prep for Spring is either by mulching or raking up the leaves in their backyard. However, these processes are up for debate about what’s more effective and better for the yard. This blog by 410 Lawn Guy will help you understand what method you should use for your final yard cleanup of the year. The Pros of Mulching Leaves There are plenty of pros for mulching leaves for your final cleanup of the year. Mulching is good for the soil because it breaks down and boosts the quality of the soil. When the leaves break down, they release critical gases and elements that can benefit the lawn in the long run. It’s also much faster than raking, plus less physically demanding. So, if

Pruning bushes and trees in your yard has a few benefits. It improves the plant’s health, helps you control growth, reduces potential hazards, and it allows you to train the plant to your desired form. Pruning also promotes air circulation and allows foliage to dry faster, which keeps diseases at bay. What tools are best for the job, and when should you cut your trees and shrubs back in Maryland? We’re glad you asked. The Best Tree and Shrub Pruning Tools The size of the job will determine which tools work best. Pruning shears typically work great for branches that are ½ inch in diameter or smaller. But if you have branches up to 2 inches thick, lopping shears are better suited for the job. If you have tall trees or bushes, pole pruners allow you to get the hard-to-reach limbs, though they come with a learning curve and can be dangerous if you aren’t familiar with them. A pruning saw is the best choice for more significant limbs and comes in several blade shapes. For the largest jobs, a chain saw will work best, but be sure to use safety glasses and wear protective clothing while using it. This