Helpful Hints

Frequently Asked Questions

Our goal at Beauty Lawn is to give you the best looking lawn possible, the best service and to be able to do it at less cost and effort than doing it yourself.

A beautiful lawn is not something that can be achieved overnight. No single treatment is going to cure all of your lawn’s problems, some of which may have been developing for years; nor can we anticipate the kinds of problems which can be caused by unusual weather conditions. We do know that the healthier the lawn is when a problem occurs, the faster it will grow back when favorable conditions return.

During unseasonable dry weather, your lawn goes into a state of semi-dormancy, sometimes appearing as if it were dead. This is just Mother Nature’s way of protecting the lawn and waiting for better weather conditions to return. With your support and Mother Nature’s help, your lawn will soon be on its way to being beautiful. The following is designed to answer many questions you about your lawn and how our service operates.

Mowing

One of the most important areas of turf grass management is mowing. Unfortunately, it is probably the least understood and the most abused area of lawn care.

How often should I mow my lawn?

The key here is to mow when it needs it, instead of every seven to ten days as the average homeowner does. Normally, not more than 1/3 of the leaf surface should be removed at any one mowing. This means that if you cut your grass at a height of 2”, it should be cut when it reaches a height of 3”. Cutting off more leaf surface at one time will shock the plant and may reduce the root system.

At what height should I mow my lawn?

Not less than 2”. During the summer months this could be raised to 2 ½” to 3”. Mowing shorter than 2” can weaken the root system and make grass more prone to damage from heat and disease.

Should I have the lawn mowed before being sprayed?

No. The actual height of your lawn when the application is made will not appreciably affect the results.

How soon after a spray application can I mow?

You should wait at least 24 hours, 48 hours is better.

Why do the tips of the grass turn brown?

A dull blade can cause this type of damage due to the tearing and shredding of the tip of the grass blades. Have your blade sharpened and balanced regularly.

Should the clippings be picked up?

A dull blade can cause this type of damage due to the tearing and shreddingIt has been determined that grass clippings should be picked up only when they are very long or very heavy. Results of the testing indicated that clippings do not increase the rate at which thatch forms and may return valuable nutrients to the soil as they decompose. If clippings are long or heavy, they should be removed to prevent damage to the lawn. For best results of your lawn spraying application, do not remove clippings for at least 2 mowing’s after the application. of the tip of the grass blades. Have your blade sharpened and balanced regularly.

Watering

Moisture is a vital element to good development and growth of lawn grasses. Although supplemental watering is not essential, it will bring about increased benefits to your lawn. Remember, apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.

How often should I water?

A good rule of thumb is to water only when the lawn really needs it; every seven to ten days if no rainfall occurs. The lawn should have 1 inch of water per week. The cool season types of grasses we have in this area often go into a state of semi dormancy during periods of high temperatures. Growth of these grasses cannot be speeded up by heavy, over-watering during this period and may do more harm than good.

How much water should be applied to the lawn?

A thorough watering is essential for deep root development. Apply enough water to wet the soil to a depth of several inches for best results. Frequent shallow watering will harm your lawn and should be avoided.

When should I water?

During the daylight hours. Watering at night will increase the risk of disease.

Should the lawn be watered after you spray?

During periods of adequate rainfall, it is not necessary to “water-in” our applications. At times when rainfall is lacking, watering will carry nutrients down into the root zone and will help the lawn respond faster. To obtain the best results, we would recommend watering that should be delayed for at least 24 hours following an application which contains weed control. After this time, watering will increase weed growth, thus increasing the speed and effectiveness of the weed killer. Other applications which do not contain weed control can be watered immediately.

Seeding

From time to time, you may want to do some seeding on your lawn. It is recommended that you do this seeding during the fall when we have the best growing conditions.

Weeds

How long will it take for the weeds to die?

Normally 3 to 4 weeks. This will vary depending on time of year, weather conditions, and how actively growing the weeds are when the weed killer is applied. An actively growing weed will absorb the herbicide faster and consequently will be killed quicker.

Will rain affect the weed control effectiveness?

If it rains heavy too soon after the application has been applied, it may reduce the weed killers effectiveness. The length of “dry” time required between the application and the rainfall depends on how actively growing the weeds are.

Will the weed control application harm my trees and shrubs?

We have selected the safest spray materials available and use modern equipment which has been designed to reduce drift. Our technicians are very careful to avoid any damage to your valuable landscape plantings – normally they stay 6” to 8” away from the plants to be extra safe.

Why do I need more than 1 weed control application a season?

There are a number of different weeds found in the average home lawn. Many of these are killed quickly after just the first application; while others die back and then regrow. The weeds which regrow are in a weakened condition and usually the second application finishes them for good. Another reason is that weed seed is continually germinating when weather conditions are favorable; new weed seed is blowing in and the additional sprays act as a preventative treatment to keep new weeds from re-establishing in your lawn. Remember, weed control materials kill weeds, not weed seed.

Undesirable Grasses

What is that wide bladed grass that grows in clumps in my lawn?

Without actually seeing it, a positive identification is impossible. It is most likely coarse fescue. The only practical way to eliminate this problem is to dig it out and replace it with sod or reseed the area.

What is crabgrass and how do I get rid of it?

Crabgrass is an annual grass which germinates in the Spring and then dies after the first killing frost. Crabgrass seed may lie dormant in the soil for many years until the soil is disturbed or until weather conditions are just right for it to start growing. For this reason, a long range control program is often necessary. The materials we use are very effective and should take care of the problem completely after several years.

Insects

Turf insects are becoming more of a problem for the homeowner because of the widely varied life cycles and the limitations of various control products.

What are grubs and what do they do to the lawn?

White grubs, those commonly found in the lawn, are the larval stage of a number of different beetles. The grub stage feeds on the root system of the grass plants. Damage can be anything from minor discoloration to total death of the affected turf area.

Does the Beauty Lawn program take care of grubs?

Grub control is an optional treatment which can be added to your program. It is a preventative application and is a guard against destructive grub damage. We guarantee you won’t have grubs.

Why do I have moles in my lawn?

The moles are feeding on grubs and usually indicate that a grub control treatment is needed.

What are chinch bugs and sod webworms, and how do I get rid of them?

Chinch bugs are small insects which suck the juice out of the grass plants. They develop quickly during dry, hot weather. Sod webworms are often present in two stages of growth: the adults are small grayish white moths which fly above the lawn when disturbed; however, it is the larval and caterpillar stages that actually eat the grass blades. Beauty Lawn lawn spraying program can take care of both of these problems for you.

Diseases

What causes a lawn disease?

Turf diseases are caused by various forms of fungi. These fungi are spread by small spores that are easily blown about in the wind, carried to the ground in rain, and moved about on equipment and peoples’ shoes. When climatic conditions are favorable, this spore germinates just like a small seed and starts to grow-as it grows it attacks grass plants and causes spots on the blades, yellowing, die-back, etc.

What will a disease do to my lawn?

Depending on weather conditions, it may have a very minor effect or it may literally wipe your lawn out.

How can I tell if my problem is caused by a disease?

The easiest way is to call the office, and we will send a technician out to make the diagnosis.

Does Beauty Lawn include disease control in its’ lawn spraying program?

No. Due to the fact there are so many types of diseases, it is very difficult to control a disease once the damage is done.

Thatch

Thatch is an accumulation of partially decomposed grass blades, stems, roots, and other organic matter which has built up over a period of years. Everyone has some thatch in their lawn, but when that thatch becomes thicker than one inch, it can create problems.

How can I get rid of the thatch?

The core aeration practice removes cores of soil from the ground approximately 2” to 3” deep, thus creating a void or hole. This allows penetration of air, water and fertilizer into the soil. It promotes healthy root growth and brings bacteria to the surface for better activity in decaying thatch and clippings.

Why does thatch hurt a lawn?

A heavy layer of thatch prevents the movement of water, air, fertilizer and pesticides down into the soil, thereby causing a loss of vigor and increasing the chances of other problems. It also serves as an excellent breeding ground for turf disease.

General Information

Will lawn spraying applications be harmful to my children or pets?

We recommend that children and pets be kept off the treated areas until thoroughly dry (approx. 30 – 60 minutes).

Will my lawn look like a golf green in the fall?

Not unless it’s well on the way already. We promise good, satisfying results. Along with some help from you, your lawn can be something you will be proud of.

Do I have to pick up my leaves in the fall?

Leaves should be gathered at least once weekly to prevent the smothering of grass. Never allow leaves to remain on the lawn over the winter.

A healthy lawn is in your best interest. Here’s why…

Cooling
The front lawns of a block of 8 average houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning – enough to cool 16 average homes.
On a hot summer day, grass can be 10 to 14 degrees cooler than exposed soil and as much as 30 degrees cooler than concrete or asphalt.
Air Quality
A 50’ by 50’ well-maintained grass area will create enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four every day.
Acting like a gigantic sponge, lawns absorb all types of airborne pollutants such as soot, dust and carbon dioxide, as well as noise.
Less weeds means less weed pollen, a relief to those with allergies.
Water Quality
Studies show healthy lawns absorb rainfall 4-6 times more effectively than farm fields, being exceeded only by virgin forest. Lawns return the moisture to the watertable where it can again be used by everyone.
A Penn State University study showed thick lawns slow the velocity of run-off and allow the water to infiltrate 15 times better from a high quality lawn than from a patchy lawn with a lot of weeds.
Soil Quality
A healthy lawn prevents erosion by water or wind and the loss of valuable topsoil – less mud and dust in the house.
Aesthetics
There can be no argument that a beautiful lawn is immediately pleasing to the eye and relaxing in its appearance. Lawns help to soften and reduce reflected light – less glare.
Exercise
While some may scorn its needs, others find lawn maintenance requirements an excellent opportunity to enjoy reasonable exercise and a diversion.
Homes, sports fields and parks with healthy lawns provide safer recreation areas when grass acts as a cushion to reduce shock and potential injury.
Noise Reduction
While your lawn is busily performing all of these functions, you may not have noticed…it’s very quiet and has no moving parts! Good turf can absorb sound better than heavy carpeting.
Value
Appraisers estimate that a well-landscaped and maintained lawn adds 7% to the value of residential property. A Gallup survey concluded that a 15% increase in selling price can be realized when the home is nicely landscaped.

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