grass Archives - 410 Lawn Guy

Common Grass Types in Maryland

Joe Butts On August 25, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

One of the best ways to have a healthy lawn in Maryland is planting perennial common grass types native to the area. While some grasses are nicer to look at or feel better underfoot, invasive or introduced grasses can wreak havoc on the native pollinators and plants. Maryland Common Grass Types If you live in Maryland and need to plant grass in your yard, consider some of these grasses: Broomsedge bluestem Little bluestem Prairie cordgrass Saltmeadow cordgrass Smooth cordgrass Eastern bottlebrush grass Red fescue Eastern gamagrass Eastern blue-eyed grass Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Mudplantain grassleaf Indiangrass Coastal panicgrass Blue sedge Pennsylvania sedge Upright sedge Switchgrass Canada wildrye Virginia wildrye Indian woodoats These Maryland grasses bloom between June and October. You can choose one type for your entire yard or mix them up to add interest and texture to your landscape. Maryland Invasive and Introduced Grasses According to the Maryland State Archives, the following grasses are considered invasive and introduced. If you are looking to help local pollinators thrive, especially if you have fruits or vegetables growing, avoid using these grass types: Bamboo Wavyleaf basketgrass Japanese silver grass Japanese stilt grass Johnson grass Pampas grass Reed canary grass Japanese knotwood Chinese lespedeza

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Don’t Let Weeds Take Over Your Lawn

Joe Butts On August 9, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

No matter how much effort you put into maintaining your lawn, you’re bound to get weeds at some point. In Maryland, there are several weeds to contend with, and most of them can multiply quickly. The problem with most weeds in Maryland is the seeds travel with the wind. So, even if you get rid of the offenders taking up residence in your yard, they can quickly germinate and take root in your lawn. Once a weed seed lands in your yard, it can stay dormant for years. When conditions are right, they germinate and spread roots, making it more difficult to get rid of them. In Maryland, these conditions include: Improper Lawn Mowing Not Watering Your Lawn Correctly (Under-Watering Or Over-Watering) Not Using The Proper Fertilizing Methods Warm Temperatures Poor Soil Bare Or Thinning Spots In Your Lawn Common Weeds in Maryland Most weeds in Maryland fall into two categories; broadleaf and grass weeds. There can be a number of both lying dormant in your lawn, just waiting to make their appearance and take over. The University of Maryland has an extensive weed identification and management guide to help you identify and eradicate these common Maryland weeds. Maryland Broadleaf

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Lawn Mowing – Maintaining the Health of Your Lawn

Joe Butts On July 20, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

We all know that to keep our lawns looking healthy, lush, and manicured, regular lawn mowing is essential. Keeping our grass cut to a manageable height also lessens our workload. It keeps our lawn mowing tools from getting clogged and overrun with overgrown grass. However, simply knowing that we do need to mow our lawn regularly is relatively ambiguous. In this article, we’ll be giving an in-depth look at the optimal ways to cut our lawns to keep them in tip-top shape. Devise a Lawn Mowing Schedule The frequency at which you should be mowing your lawn depends on your climate. It also depends on the amount of sun and water your lawn receives, and the type of grass you’re growing. A general rule of thumb is never to mow more than a third of the total height of grass to avoid stressing your lawn unnecessarily. For example, if you prefer to cut your yard to one inch high, you’d cut your grass when it reaches one and a half inches tall. Some lawns you will need to mow weekly. For extremely prolific yards, this could be up to twice a week or more. Grass that doesn’t receive the optimal

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How to Fix Dead Grass Patches in Your Lawn

Joe Butts On July 20, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

Meticulously taking care of our grass to achieve a perfectly lush, emerald-green lawn is somewhat of an American tradition. No one is expecting dead grass patches to show up! We diligently water, fertilize, weed, mow, and lovingly tend to their every need even in the scorching hot heat of summer, all to achieve gorgeous curb appeal (and the envy of all our neighbors, if we’re totally honest). But what happens when you end up with stubborn dead grass patches that no amount of watering seems to fix? In this article, we’ll explore what you need to do to care for and eradicate your dead patches. Take A Look At Your Mowing And Watering Schedule Our first tip will take you all the way back to the basics of lawn care: how often and how much you’re watering your lawn, and how often and how short you’re mowing it. Underwatered grass will act like any other living thing in the absence of water: it’ll become dangerously dry, shrivel up, and if you don’t proactively water it, it’ll die. This is the case even if you have automatic sprinklers or a robust watering routine. Any patches that you don’t water adequately can

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Insect Control for Your Lawn – Grubs, Worms, Spiders, Ants

Joe Butts On May 19, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

A perfect lawn is the dream of every homeowner, as it gives your surroundings an aesthetic appeal. Managing a lawn requires basics such as watering, mowing, landscaping, and fertilizing. However, insect control is one of the most challenging lawn maintenance tasks. Generally, pests that affect lawns vary, with some living underground, while others inhabit the surface. Once insects attack your lawn, it is advisable to address the problem immediately to prevent further damage. An insect-free lawn is a pleasant place for family and friends to gather and enjoy your outdoor spaces. How to Detect Insects in Your Lawn Insect control should be a basic lawn maintenance practice. Therefore, while carrying out routine maintenance, you need to combine several approaches that will help you identify the types of insects attacking your lawn. Visual Examination for Insect Control Scan the lawn for patches. Most patches occur from pests such as moths, white grubs, and black turfgrass beetles. Monitor the grass for sections that have been chewed off or are missing as it might signify a moth problem. Furthermore, look at any brown lawn sections overall, and if the blades appear chewed, then it is a moth problem. Additionally, drying grass indicates there

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When Should I Water The Lawn?

Joe Butts On April 16, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

To maintain a lush and green lawn, adequate and regular watering is needed. Even if you have healthy soil, a lack of enough water supply will lead to the grass’s shriveling up. At the same time, with excess water, the grass will be oversaturated and eventually die. Watering a lawn might appear like a simple task; however, there are factors to consider, like how often and what time of day your grass needs water supply? How Often Should You Water the Lawn? The frequency of watering your lawn depends on several factors like the type of soil. For instance, if you have clay soil, you should water at least once a week due to its ability to retain water for long hours. On the other hand, you should water sandy soil at least three times a week. Watering the lawn more frequently, however, comes with the risk of overwatering. It is worth mentioning that too frequent or light watering can encourage fungus growth alongside shallow root structure. Adequate watering will soak the soil and encourage the roots to grow deeper and stronger. What Is the Right Time Of the Day to Water the Lawn? Although your lawn needs a constant

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How Early is Too Early to Seed in the Spring?

Joe Butts On February 18, 2021 / Lawn Care Tips

We may be just getting into winter here in Maryland, but some are already thinking about prepaing to seed in the spring. There are so many things to do to prepare for the new season. It’s time to start planning out your garden, determining if you need to make changes to your landscape design, and getting your seeds ready to germinate. As you look out the window at your yard, are you wondering how early is too early to seed in the spring? The brown patches of grass and bare spots full of mud after the snow has melted are an eyesore for many. Unfortunately, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow as he came out of his hole. So we have at least six more weeks of winter with which to contend. That doesn’t mean we can’t make plans for the spring that will eventually come our way. One of the challenges of living in Maryland is our hot and cold overlapping climate puts us in the transition zone. It makes it harder to determine the best time in spring to begin seeding. Why Timing and Seed Choice Matter If you seed too early, you risk the soil being too cold

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What Do You Put on Your Lawn in the Winter?

Joe Butts On December 17, 2020 / Lawn Care Tips

We know you won’t be outside mowing the lawn and tending your garden over the winter. But, that doesn’t mean you should ignore your yard until the warm weather returns. You don’t want your lawn looking like a brown, dry, lifeless mess when the seasons change. There are a few things you can do with your lawn in winter to get a jumpstart on spring. Aerate Your Lawn In Winter Over time, the soil in your yard can get compacted, especially in high-traffic areas. This can limit the number of nutrients your grass can absorb and prevent the ground from draining properly. One way to improve drainage and ensure your grass is getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy is to aerate your lawn in winter. You can do this with a power aerator if you have a large yard. This machine will puncture the earth, allowing air to flow and water to get down into the soil. If your yard is on the smaller side, you can also do this by hand using a pitchfork. If your lawn could benefit from aeration, be sure to get it done before the first frost. Fertilize Fertilizing is another way to

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