Blog - Lawn Care Salt Lake City Utah

Ever wondered why your grass is Green?

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on September 29, 2016 in Lawn Care Tips. 0 Comments

Knowing what makes grass appear green can greatly assist in caring for your lawn. Below, we at VIRIDIS Lawn Care, will tell you what makes grass green so you can insure you are meeting the requirements for a beautiful lawn surrounding your home.

It all starts with a big word called chlorophyll. This is what is inside green plants that transforms sunlight into food or energy they can use to grow. But knowing this only helps you provide one needed condition for your grass to green – sunlight, and there isn’t much you can do about that. You can make sure to plant it in less shady areas but you can’t make the clouds go away. So, what other things make for a green lawn that you can control?

Nutrients. Providing the required nutrients can help grass to grow lush and deep green rather than pale, sickly yellow-green. Several of our other posts address fertilizers and how to use them properly. Insuring the lawn has nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the correct amounts will especially help insure it is the greenest it can be.

Water and air circulation is also very important. Through aerating, thatching, and practicing good watering habits, your lawn can get the most from the care you put into it. Mowing is also an important part of this. Make sure you never mow too low or the roots can become dry and damaged, not to mention, you will cut off all of the green tops, adding to a yellowed, unhealthy appearance.

Without each of these things working together, your lawn wouldn’t live up to its greenest potential. Check our other post relating to each topic for more in-depth information. Following these simple guidelines can keep your lawn looking it’s very best.

Protect your lawn investment

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on September 29, 2016 in Affordable Lawn Care. 0 Comments

Starting a landscape is no easy task. Not only does it take lots of time and planning, it can be very expensive. Even very simple landscaping can cost a great deal. After spending so much time, effort, and money on creating a beautiful landscape, doesn’t it make sense to maintain that beauty? Maintenance is easier than reforming an overgrown, struggling landscape and can save a lot of money in new plants and grass seed. Below, we at VIRIDIS will explain a few of the costs associated with starting a new lawn and why it makes sense to invest in maintaining that investment rather than try to fix problems once they appear.

While there are many different methods of starting a lawn, whether by seed or sod, hiring a professional or doing it yourself, the cost can still be significant. According to Home Advisor, members report an average cost of over $800 to start a lawn from sod in the Salt Lake area. This is less than the national average of $1,700 but still a substantial chunk of change. The cost rises if you have hills and slopes , irregularly shaped lawns, other obstacles such as beds or trees, a large size lawn, or upgrade the sod grade (quality). Of course, installing the sod yourself could decrease costs but some advantages of hiring a professional include their ability to hide seams, work with difficult areas of your landscape, provide and run equipment, and save you time. Sometimes, renting necessary equipment might cost you as much as hiring the professional. But if you have the equipment, time, and energy, laying your own sod could save you up to half the cost of installation.

In addition to the grass itself, many people install a sprinkler system on their new lawn. This saves the hassle of hauling around hoses and sprinklers and insures a much more even water coverage, not to mention, can save you money in the long run. However, this is another very high cost associated with starting a lawn. According to Home Advisor, members report an average cost of almost $3,500 to install sprinklers in the Salt Lake area. This is more than the national average of almost $2,500 by $1,000! So while you might spend less on the actual grass than the national average, you will make up for it if you decide on sprinklers. These costs can also rise based on your unique landscape and the quality of parts you chose.

Most of you have already paid these costs to create your beautiful homes. Wouldn’t it make sense to hire a professional such as VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City to help protect that investment? With our fertilizer application, pest control treatment, aeration services, disease control, over seeding service, and more, we are perfectly equipped to prevent problems, repair problems, and protect your investment from whatever may come. We take pride in our work and enjoy seeing a beautiful, healthy lawn stay that way. Call us today to find out how we can help you protect your investment.

Grasshopper prevention

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on September 29, 2016 in Pest Control. 0 Comments

Grasshoppers are among the worst creatures for your lawn and plants. Although small, these pests can severely damage or, if left unchecked, destroy grass, trees, and flowers. VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake can help you control these pests so your landscape can remain attractive and healthy. Our perimeter pest control can save your lawn the pain of rehabilitation after a pest infestation and you the headache and work. Below we will outline some information on grasshoppers that can help you identify if they are the cause behind problems you spot in your property so you can start treating and preventing further damage as soon as possible.

Identification

Grasshoppers come in a large range of colors – from green to brown to yellow. The adults have wings as well as powerful hind legs. They are typically around 2 inches long although they can be larger or smaller depending on the variety.

Habitat

Grasshoppers generally prefer drier climates. Their population fluctuates each year depending on the weather patterns and the harshness of each season. They often make their homes in unkempt areas of weeds and tall grass which can help prevent them from taking over a well maintained landscape area but also allows them to reproduce without notice.

Diet

Grasshoppers cause the most damage in late summer once they have matured and need more food. This is also the time when many crops ripen. They feed on many garden vegetables, leaves, flowers, grass, and other plants. During heavy outbreak years, they will even feed on many other objects besides plants such as fabric window screens, paint, and wooden handles or posts. The holes they leave behind as they feed are generally noticeable.

Treatment and Prevention

There are insecticides that can help control grasshopper populations. Using insecticides on adult grasshoppers can sometimes fail however since they are more resilient as adults. Applying these chemicals in early summer during their younger stages will prove much more effective. This can help eliminate many grasshoppers before they even have a chance to become a problem. Be sure to always follow insecticide instructions or hire a professional to help insure it is applied correctly. Also, keeping your lawn free of weeds and tilling open areas in the fall to kill the eggs that may have been laid over the summer can help control the grasshopper population near your property. Also, keep a close watch on any open lots near your property to insure you don’t have a breeding ground just waiting to cause you problems.

Grasshoppers are, fortunately, easy to identify as problem causers which can help you get a jump start on removing them from around your home and garden. VIRIDIS Lawn Care’s professionals are eager to help so you can reap the rewards of your efforts on your landscaping without putting up with pests trying to destroy your hard work. Call us with any questions you may have on our perimeter pest control to help you keep your landscape healthy and pest free!

Protect your lawn

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on July 18, 2016 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

While there are many different methods of starting a lawn, whether by seed or sod, hiring a professional or doing it yourself, the cost can still be significant. According to Home Advisor, members report an average cost of over $800 to start a lawn from sod in the Salt Lake area. This is less than the national average of $1,700 but still a substantial chunk of change. The cost rises if you have hills and slopes, irregularly shaped lawns, other obstacles such as beds or trees, a large size lawn, or upgrade the sod grade (quality). Of course, installing the sod yourself could decrease costs but some advantages of hiring a professional include their ability to hide seams, work with difficult areas of your landscape, provide and run equipment, and save you time. Sometimes, renting necessary equipment might cost you as much as hiring the professional. But if you have the equipment, time, and energy, laying your own sod could save you up to half the cost of installation.

Disease Control

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on July 18, 2016 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Summer is such a wonderful season for enjoying the great outdoors. Backyard fun takes up a lot more of our time but so can working on that yard. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our lawn doesn’t live up to all the care we give it. One of these instances is when lawns contract diseases. No, these aren’t diseases you need to worry about kids or pets catching. These are grass specific diseases that can cause your lawn to look a bit lackluster or even cause large patches to brown and die. At VIRIDIS Lawn Care, we want to make sure you don’t have to worry about lawn diseases destroying your beautiful lawn and undoing all of your hard work.

This is why we offer Lawn Disease Control. This is a simple treatment that will keep your lawn from developing snow mold, fairy ring, brown spot, and necrotic ring, just to name a few. Each of these diseases can cause considerable damage to your grass and take months to rehabilitate. Often, this damage can open up areas to other issues such as weeds or lawn pests. Prevention is always best to keep your

grass growing and thriving.

And don’t worry about your children or pets. Our professionals have the knowledge and experience to insure that the products are applied correctly so as to be nontoxic to your family. If incorrectly applied, these treatments can be harmful which is why hiring a professional service such as VIRIDIS is such a good idea.

We know how to help your lawn look its best and that is by keeping it as healthy and lush as possible. Call us today to inquire about our lawn disease control to keep your grass growing at its optimal levels so you can enjoy it to your optimal level.

Watering Tips

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on April 12, 2016 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Watering a lawn seems pretty straight forward – put a hose or sprinklers on some grass and let them run. However, correctly watering a lawn for optimal growth, health, and aesthetics is a little more involved. While most turf grasses are pretty durable, they thrive under specific watering schedules and amounts. VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City, Utah wants to help you know the best way to water your lawn so it not only looks great but grows great as well.

Watering deeply and less often will help grass develop stronger and deeper roots. Shallow, frequent watering will keep the root system growing only at the surface of the soil which will cause a lawn to quickly dry out in hot, dry conditions and encourage weeds to flourish. However, going overboard and nearly drowning your lawn can cause mold and diseases as well as waste resources and money. Any pooling water or runoff is a sign of overwatering. Rather than turn sprinklers on the whole lawn for a small dry or browning area, use a hose or other method to water only the area in need. Use a screwdriver or other long, thin metal rod inserted into the ground to determine how deeply the water has soaked. It will insert easily into damp ground. Water should reach at least 6 inches deep considering most common lawn grasses can grow roots 1 foot deep or more. It should not be kept at this constant wet state though. Grass roots need oxygen and can only receive it if the ground is allowed to dry out between waterings.

Knowing when to water your lawn is important also and varies based on environmental conditions. Sight is the best way to determine when grass is in need of watering. The older blades of grass will begin to curl and footprints will remain visible longer. The color of the blades may also change dependent on the variety of grass. Early morning watering is preferable to any other time of day. The sun is less hot, the wind often hasn’t kicked up, and the grass has the day to absorb and use the water whereas night watering can cause mildew. However, during extreme bouts of heat and drought, night watering would be preferable as mildew wouldn’t have an opportunity to grow and it would prevent evaporation. Afternoon watering is the worst as it wastes a lot of water through evaporation. Keeping grass mowed to 2 ½ – 3 inches (or longer during droughts) will help it shade its roots and reduce evaporation. Also, allowing clippings to fall back into the lawn will self-fertilize and reduce the need for water.

Following these guidelines will help you keep green in your landscape and green in your wallet. Your grass will be stronger, healthier, and more drought resistant and you will do less to keep it there.

Mowing Tips

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on April 12, 2016 in Lawn Care Tips. 0 Comments

You know that mowing your lawn is one of the best and quickest ways to help it look maintained, cared for, and plain old better. But did you also know your mowing habits contribute to your grass’ overall health and resilience?

If you didn’t mow or only mowed very rarely, grass would actually begin to decline. It would thin, lay down, sprout flowers and just look bad. Mowing actually helps a lawn to grow thicker which prevents weeds and drying.

However, mowing too closely can have just as negative of effects as not mowing at all. It can decrease root growth, and make it more susceptible to weather and pests. Severely short or scalped grass can almost stop growing until recovering, causing extreme stress and an unhealthy, and if severely scalped, ugly, appearance. Also, cutting too much grass off at once is an unhealthy practice. Try to never cut more than 1/3 of the overall height at a time. Allow 4 days of recovery before re-mowing to remove more height if needed. Most grasses should be kept at 2-3 inches tall. Some warm season grasses however, should be cut closer to 1 inch high. Knowing your specific variety of grass will help you determine the best height to keep your lawn.

Mowing shouldn’t be something scheduled but should be done when the grass is at the preferred height for mowing, removing only up to 1/3 of the overall height. Scheduling the mowing will sometimes cause you to waste time mowing over grass without cutting much off and other times may remove far more height than preferred depending on growing conditions.

Another consideration is the direction you mow the lawn. This should be varied to decrease compaction where the tires tread and also to prevent the grass from leaning in one specific direction. Also, overlap each pass by a few inches to make sure you get the best coverage with no missed areas.

Only mow when grass is dry. Avoid watering or wait after a rainstorm until grass dries. Mowing wet grass isn’t only bad for your mower; it can mat the grass and will almost always cut unevenly. Having dull blades on your mower can also cause uneven cutting or even rip grass, causing much more damage than help.

Developing good mowing habits will save a lot of work in the long run. Grass will be thicker and healthier and your lawn will appear dense and beautiful. It will require less watering and have fewer weeds. Mowing correctly is one of the easiest changes to make for a more beautiful lawn.

You don’t hate your yard, show it some love.

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on February 24, 2016 in Lawn Care Tips. 0 Comments

Tips on pruning your trees and shrubs

Pruning the trees and shrubs in your landscape can dramatically increase curb appeal however, different shrubs require different pruning techniques and timing. While you could take an idle Saturday to prune every shrub on your property, doing so can cause damage to some of them. Flowering shrubs are among the most finicky. While we love them for their flowers, those are the very things we need to be mindful of when pruning. VIRIDIS Lawn Care has you covered. Below we’ll explain how and when to prune to keep your flowering shrubs loaded with blooms, healthy, and both of you happy.

Depending on the size of your shrub, you will need some specific equipment. For all pruning, long sleeves and pants are recommended. Hand pruners and perhaps a pruning saw for larger branches (those over 2 inches) are required. Long handled pruners also come in handy for shrubs that have gotten taller than your reach. Safety glasses are also never a bad idea.

Timing is everything with a flowering shrub. Pruning during the wrong season can seriously decrease the amount of flowers you will have the following year. While that may seem intimidating, if left unpruned, these shrubs will eventually stop producing flowers anyway. Flowers grow on the younger branches which will be unable to develop under the shade of older, large, woody branches.

Shrubs that flower in the spring produce blooms on the branches that grew the year before. Buds begin developing during the summer and early fall, therefore, optimal timing for preserving the flowers would be as soon as the current flowers die off. This way, the shrub hasn’t begun producing blooms for the next year. The only drawback to this method of pruning is the thick foliage can make it difficult to discern the shape of the plant or see any crossed branches or other damaged areas inside the bush.

Summer flowering shrubs can be pruned in very early spring or during the late winter because their flowers grow on branches that grow during the spring. Doing so will encourage more new growth and more flowers.

When bushes are young, prune long, unbranching steams just above a bud to stimulate lower branch growth. This will increase the fullness of your shrub, which in turn, increases your flower yield.

With more mature plants, thinning out dead or damaged branches can be done at any time of year. Removing large older branches is also important because the young new branches need sunlight and air circulation. Doing so can also prevent pests and diseases. These canes should be removed close to the ground, and since the entire cane is being removed, the timing is less important as it won’t damage flower buds. This is the most effective form of pruning as it keeps young growth coming while eliminating the oldest wood. Each year, remove about 1/3 of the oldest wood close to the ground.

Remember that often, less is more. Think of pruning as a yearly effort not a one-time push. Plants are very forgiving so forget your fear but don’t go overboard. Research your particular variety of shrub so you can identify whether it is spring or summer flowering and prune appropriately. And enjoy the new bounty of blooms you receive from your healthy, happy plants.

Aeration: Getting your Utah lawn ready for spring

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on February 24, 2016 in Affordable Lawn Care. 0 Comments

Aeration Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah it’s time to aerate your lawn! Summer is a great time to freshen up your lawn! It receives a lot of use which can lead to compaction. This in turn, can lead to unhealthy grass that requires more work and water to look decent. The solution? Aeration for your Salt Lake City Home. Depending on your grass type, aeration can be done during warm months while the grass is not dormant.

In another article we talk about the benefits of aeration, including cutting down fertilizer and water costs and having healthier, happier grass. In this article we’ll talk about why you should hire a professional such as VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City for this service. While there are methods of aerating your lawn yourself, none are as effective, or easier than, hiring a professional.

First off, aeration can be hard work! The walk-along aerators you can rent are bulk and difficult to maneuver. Others are pulled behind a small tractor but this still requires you to be out in the heat, battling the bugs, hoping you’re doing it correctly.

Renting these also necessitates you have a way to get it to your house. Either type is large and heavy and won’t fit into a trunk or car. Either variety can cause you to be sore and tired after a day of use.

Another option includes small tools such as strap on spike shoes or two to four plug manual core aerators. While the shoes may seem appealing – you’re walking around out there anyway! – simply stabbing these spikes is not an equivalent to removing plugs of grass. It only moves the dirt rather than REmoving the dirt. This is a short-term, poor fix.

The other manual core aerator option would be much more effective but can you imagine! Ideally, these cores need to be removed about every 6 inches. If you have more than a few square feet of grass, this could take you hours upon hours of hot, drudging labor. For those of you with very small lawns, this would be an acceptable alternative but for anyone else, this could take weeks to complete the lawn.

But the physical labor isn’t the worst part. Perhaps the worst part about doing it yourself is running the risk of damaging your lawn. Professionals know the best timing for you grass variety and for the weather conditions to get you the biggest bang for your work.

Aeration exposes the roots of the grass and while this is beneficial under the right conditions, drought during aeration could dry them out significantly or a hard frost could damage or kill them.

Knowing how often to aerate is another variable. This depends on compaction, grass type, soil type, thatch buildup, etc. A VIRIDIS Lawn Care professional could recommend an appropriate aeration schedule to most help your grass grow to its fullest potential.

While aerating your lawn is possible by yourself, we recommend hiring a professional lawn care service such as VIRIDIS aeration of Salt Lake City. This will save you the most time, effort, and guesswork. Call us today to schedule your consultation.

Your Utah Lawn is begging to be fertilized… Just give in already

Posted by Kagen Knudsen on February 1, 2016 in Affordable Lawn Care. 0 Comments

Affordable Lawn Care in Utah… Just in time for spring

Are you looking for affordable lawn care in Utah? With warm weather comes green grass and with green grass comes yard work. While we all love to enjoy our beautiful landscaping, doing the work to make it beautiful isn’t always enjoyable. This can lead to procrastination which in turn leads to much more work and trouble. Hiring a professional lawn care service such as VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City can take the pain out of an attractive lawn. Don’t wait until later in the summer to call for your lawn care needs. Spring is the perfect time to call and set up an appointment. We offer affordable lawn care in Utah.

Springtime is the best time to treat a lawn for weeds, especially ones that are difficult to control. Treating them early prohibits them from seeding or from spreading through their root system. It is also a great time to treat any un-germinated weed seeds from the previous year to keep them from establishing. Doing this early can save hours of work later in the year and in years to come.

Professional landscapers can also help your lawn green up sooner by keeping your grass healthy so that it can perform at its peak capacity. Whether your lawn is in need of dethatching, aeration, or fertilization, whether it suffers from bugs, disease, or unexplained thinning areas, our professionals can analyze and respond appropriately to insure your grass remains its healthiest throughout the year. They can also offer advice and help for specific questions you may have.

The earlier you start on your lawn once warm weather hits, the better looking and healthier your grass will remain throughout this summer season and the better it will continue to perform as it reaps the benefits of professional lawn care services. Hiring a professional from VIRIDIS Lawn Care just makes sense. Call today and start saving money with our affordable plans!

Call Us Today: 801-367-9961