Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape   Lawn Care and Lawn Care Services   A well-maintained lawn and landscape can add 5 to 7 percent to a property’s value. Not only beautiful, it reduces noise pollution, has a cooling effect during the hot seasons, and prevents soil erosion. Growing a lush, green lawn, however, may not always seem easy. Weeds, brown spots and diseases may appear to be the only things that want to thrive in your yard. Whatever type of lawn you want to grow, knowing the following growing techniques helps you establish a healthy, hearty lawn. When planting SOD, either to grow grass over an entire yard or simply fill bare patches in a thriving lawn, follow these basic guidelines: SOIL PREPARATION: Soil testing for proper pH levels of about 6.5 to 7.0 is the first step. Proper pH balance lets grass absorb needed nutrients and fertilizer. Next, the soil must be tilled by raking, plowing, disking or by using a rotary tiller. The ideal seedbed is composed of pea to marble-sized soil particles that create a good, protective lodging place for seeds. TOP SOIL IF NEEDED: Add top soil only if it’s needed to fill low areas. Top soil that is trucked in often contains large amounts of weed seeds, including some weeds that cannot be selectively controlled. So it’s usually best to work with the soil you already have.  In Spring Hill with it being sandy this sometimes is necessary.  It most cases this is always beneficial. Adding a little topsoil can make a huge difference. LEVEL AREA: After tilling and removing any large clods, the area should be leveled. This leveling can usually be done using a garden rake and/or other garden tools.   We at Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape also use a laser level at no additional cost to you.  It is just getting the grade as perfect as can be.  The grade is what provide the level ground that you want to put your sod on.  There are no ripples or slopes that flood.  This reflects on the work we do and we give it our all. WATERING: Watering is crucial. General Watering Consistency and deep watering are two basics of a good lawn program. REGULAR SCHEDULE: Irregular watering can be harmful. It might train the roots to grow too close to the surface, leaving them more vulnerable to the scorching sun. It can also push the grass plants in and out of dormancy, forcing them to use up stored nutrients too quickly. DAY VS. NIGHT: Watering at night spreads diseases which thrive in damp, dark environments. Daytime watering allows the sun and wind to dry the blades of grass while their roots are irrigated. As a rule, a sprinkler with a 5/8-inch hose left in one place for one hour each week will give grass all the water it needs. If you choose not to water, the Bahia grass will go dormant and turn brown during very hot summer periods.  Floratam sod demands water and much of it.  Mowing The way you mow your lawn has a significant effect on its health. MOWING HEIGHT: Grass generally performs best when mowed at one of the higher settings on your mower—especially in hot summer weather. The mower blade should be kept sharp, and you should not cut off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blades in a single mowing.  We understand how everyone wants the lawn as short as possible without burning, however, it adds stress and has a negative result.  It is a rule of thumb not to remove 1/3 of the length of grass.  Grass does get stressed when mowed too short. MOWING FREQUENCY: Once a week is usually sufficient. In spring, when grass is growing more rapidly, mowing twice a week may sometimes be necessary to avoid removing more than 1/3 the length of the grass blades. GRASS CLIPPINGS: Grass cycling—leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing—allows nutrients to return to the soil. Light clippings can decompose rapidly, nourishing the soil as they decay. Heavy clippings, however, can sometimes, smother grass, so using a mulching mower in such cases is recommended. Fertilizing Nutrients lawns need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The amount of nitrogen to apply may vary from region to region and turf type, but is normally about four to seven pounds per 1000 square feet a year. Whatever the amount, it should be carefully applied at intervals over the course of the growing season. If the applications are incorrect, extra shoots of grass will grow too quickly, leading to a buildup of thatch. Different specialists' opinions may vary as to the exact ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to use. Generally, however, you should fertilize seasonally in the following ways: SPRING: A fertilizer with a ratio of about 4-1-2 parts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will help the grass begin the summer growing season. EARLY SUMMER: Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be mixed at about a 3-1-2 ratio. FALL: Although the blades of grass are beginning to slow in growth, a fertilizer with higher nitrogen and potassium, at a ratio of 3-1-3, will encourage healthy root growth, ensuring strong turf the following year. Be careful and follow the label directions: too much fertilizer can burn your turf. Use of Pest Control If a pest or weed problem is killing the grass, or causing significant damage, some people apply pesticides. There are many on the market—either insecticides, herbicides or fungicides—to control insects, weeds and diseases respectively. It is very important to properly identify the pest and be sure that an appropriate lawn product is used. Be sure to purchase a product targeted to the particular problem you want to resolve. Determine whether or not the product needs to be watered into the soil. Improper and indiscriminate spraying of insecticides, herbicides or fungicides could do more harm than good. Turf grass is crawling with life, most of it barely noticeable. Everything living in your grass should ideally create a natural balance which gives grass the right environment to grow. Herbicides, the most commonly used pesticides, must be used carefully, because they can damage or kill ornamental plants or shrubs if you miss your target. Identify the weed and the most effective time in its growing season to treat it. You must know the exact size of your lawn in square feet so you can purchase and apply the right quantity of pesticide. Mix only the amount of pesticides you need. Any excess mixtures of small amounts of pesticides can be applied over the same site of the original application. Store any left-over products in their original containers and away from children or pets. If you are mixing products, follow the label directions. Do not add a little extra—and never use the concentrated product. Wash carefully with soap and water if any spills on your skin. Hiring of a Lawn Service KNOW WHAT YOU WANT FROM A LAWN SERVICE: Lawn care companies provide many services, including mowing, maintenance, aeration, seeding, landscaping, fertilization and tree care. FIND OUT WHICH COMPANIES PROVIDE SERVICE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Ask your neighbors or friends for a recommendation. ASK FOR A LAWN INSPECTION AND A FREE ESTIMATE FOR SERVICE: Services that quote a price without seeing your lawn for an inspection cannot be sure what your lawn might need.   Cost to cut are of course based on size and condition. ASK ABOUT THE PRICE SYSTEM AND WHAT SERVICES ARE INCLUDED: Lawn services may offer a yearly contract or a simple verbal agreement giving the customer the right to discontinue service at any time. Find out what happens if you have a problem between contracts. Will the service calls be free or is there a charge? CONSIDER ANNUAL COSTS VS. COST PER APPLICATION: Many companies allow you to pay after each treatment and may offer a discount if you pay the annual cost up front. GET A WRITTEN AGREEMENT ABOUT COSTS AND SERVICES BEFORE YOU PAY: Document the duration and expected results of the lawn care service. LOOK FOR GUARANTEES AND REFUND POLICIES: Some services may offer a guarantee of performance. Others may offer refunds if they fail to meet your expectations. MAKE SURE THE SERVICE IS LICENSED  AND INSURED   To learn more about Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape , please, look around the site! Thank you.  Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape   Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape  offers a many services at honest prices.  Landscape and complete  Property Maintanence is our job!  We offer the lowest prices that we can!  Always provideing better service and we think that you will agree!   Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape wants to keep you, the customer happy and satisfied.  We earn your trust!   Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape,  offers complete property care.  We take care of what you care about!  352/  556-8919     Thank You,  Joe   Thank you for visiting http://www.springhilllawnandlandscape.com We provided reliable, trustworthy,  personal  lawn service with care.  We take care of what you care about.  Your lawn is important to us and that is why we think you will be served better with Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape.  We offer lawn service with more concern, we not only care about your lawn, we care about our customers. We want you as a customer for a lifetime.  We provide the lawn service that we ourselves would want.   We go the extra mile because we want to!  We care enough to and we care about our community. Thank you, to our surrounding areas of Hernando; Spring Hill, Hernando, Hudson, Weeki Wachee, Brooksville, Spring Lake and Crystal River.  These communities are the very reason we have had such success in our lawn mowing service business.  Our landscape business is booming as well.   We thank you all for your continued support.  We know the "fly by nights" are swarming in and offering lower initial prices and we thank all that have stayed loyal to us at Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape.       lawn service,lawn service service,lawn lawn service/lawn care,springhill lawn service,spring hill,mowing,mowing,mowing service.