Sod Lawns

 Sod, or turf, is grass with a thin layer of dirt that contains the roots. It is commonly used to create lawns in both residential and commercial properties. It can also be used to patch dead
spots in a lawn. Here are a few things to keep in mind about sodding.



1. Make sure the ground you are working with is level.
You dont want a lumpy lawn, so there is some prep work that goes into sodding. You can rake the area you are about to sod until it is smooth. This will ensure a level lawn and will also help with the health of the sod.

2. Water regularly
All plants require water, but new plants that need special attention. Make sure to water you new sod at least every other day. Be sure to do it in the morning so fungus and weeds won't grow with it.

3. Let your grass grow.
 Don't try to mow your new sod immediately after it is planted. Give it a few weeks to let the roots sink into the ground.



Tyler Kaiser
T. J. Landscaping

Aeration and Overseeding

Lawn aeration and overseeding bring many benefits to your lawn. This process is sometimes done on new lawns or dying lawns, but most lawn will benefit from it. Here is some information about this process that will help you determine whether or not your lawn needs it, and to give you some basic knowledge on the subject.

Aeration-

Aeration is a process that creates holes in your lawn. The holes this makes allows nutrients to get to the roots of the grass. This alone is helpful in maintaining the beautiful green grass in ones lawn. It can also help weaker or dying grass. '

There are 2 types of aerators, "Core" and " Spike". Spike aeration compresses the soil by pressing spikes into it while core aeration removes "plugs" from you lawn. Core aeration is considered better in most cases, because spike aeration allows water to soak into the compressed soil and fill the holes back in. An added benefit to core aeration the reduction of thatch. Thatch is the term we use for dead grass build up. When the roots of grass die, they have no where to go, so they sit there and decompose. This can take a while, so if you have dead grass, it will likely build up.

Overseeding-
After a year of mowing, edging, weeding and watering, grass can start to die. Dead lawn are inviting to weeds and fungus, so this should be taken care of. Overseeding is when you plant grass on an existing lawn. This can help thicken your grass, reduce weed growth, and restore your lawn. Coupled with aeration, overseeding is usually effective and affordable.




Tyler Kaiser
T. J. Landscaping

Fall Bloomers

Fall is coming soon, and with it comes an opportunity to create or re-design garden beds. There are multiple plants that are better to plant in the fall, and designing beds is a great way to make your property look better. Here are a few plants that bloom in the fall, That you can incorporate into a  fall flower bed.



Aster- The aster is a beautiful flower that blooms in the fall. The pink, blue purple and white flowers are perfect for adding color to your beds.

Russian Sage- In every garden it is important to add contrast to all the autumnal shades. The Russian sage is perfect for this because of its light blue flower and silvery foliage.

Goldenrod- The cheery yellow flower of the Goldenrod is a staple to fall in New England. This is a tough yet beautiful plant that looks good, despite summer heat and drought.

Colchicum- The Colchicum is a beautiful plant that looks like a fall-blooming crocus, but more energetic. Its big, cup-shaped blooms will give a blast of pink and white to your fall beds.

Helenium- Among the daisy family, the helenium stands our for its cheery yellow, orange or red blooms at the end of the year.

Red Spider Lily- Among the most exotic bulbs, the red spider lily send out a beautiful burst of bright red flowers. After these fade, the plants sappy leaves take their place.

Sedum- One of the quintessential autumn plants, the sedum bursts into bloom at summer's end. This tough plant is able to withstand summer heat and drought, while looking great in a bed.

These plants will add color to your fall beds. As you plan your beds consider which colors go well and what will look best in the environment you are working with.

Tyler Kaiser
T. J. Landscaping

Grass species

There are many different types of grass species that all require different care. Knowing the species that your lawn contains and how to care for them is important for maintaining the health of your lawn. Remember that your lawn is a mixture of species, and each species requires different care.

1. Kentucky Bluegrass
This is one of the most popular grasses in New England.  It is deep green in color and has a soft texture. It has great root systems, but it does not do well in deep shade. It is easily identified by its V-shaped blade and pointed tip. It is also darker green than any other grass. It grows very well from seed, which makes it a popular choice for sod farms in NE. Kentucky Bluegrass is among the best grasses for your lawn.

2. Fine Fescue
 The name "Fine Fescue" is actually a group of species that are similar in look and feel. As the name suggests, they are very fine textured with needle-like blades. This makes them easy to distinguish. These species are popular because they have great shade tolerance. This makes them ideal for most New England homes. However, they do not tolerate heat or dry conditions.

3. Ryegrass
Ryegrass is easy to spot in a lawn because of its dark green color and the fact that it leaves a white cast when mowed. It can also be distinguished from other grasses by its pointed tip, viable blades and broad collar. . It is a bunchgrass, which means it germinates quickly and is often found in grass seed mixtures with Kentucky Bluegrass.It is very important to cut this type of grass with a sharp blade, otherwise it will shred.

4. Bent grass
Bent grass is found on most golf courses in New England because it can be mowed as low as 1/10", which makes an ideal surface for putting greens and fairways. Even when mowed very low if forms a dense turf with a very fine-textured feel. The cost to maintain a bent grass lawn is very expensive because of its need for heavy fungicides, insecticides and fertilizers, as well as expensive equipment needed to mow it. This type of grass needs to be watered almost daily.

5. Zoysia
Zoysia grass forms a lawn that feels like a thick, prickly carpet. Zoysia is found mostly in and from the middle part of the U.S. and east toward the Carolinas. It can be found in the north, but will turn brown once the weather turns cold. It is a very slow-growing grass, and it can take more than a year to establish a lawn of zoysia
grass. It has stiff leaf blades and will produce numerous seed heads if it isn't mowed.



Tyler Kaiser
T.J. Landscaping