GUIDE TO ROUTIUE LAWN MAINTENCE

CUTTING

When maintaining a property, it is important to mow your lawn regularly. Lawns can generally be cut about once a week if your property is going slower during a heat wave than sometimes it is best to performance bi-weekly cuts to the park. In the late spring and early summer than your lawn could be growing a rapid rate than your lawn may need to be cut more than once a week or double cut, which is when the lawn is mowed twice in one session. The rule of thumb when cutting grass is that you should not cut more than a ⅓ of the length of the blades at once. Cutting grass too short can cause your property to burn out. Additionally, every time one cuts a property it is imperative that you cut the property at different angles, four common angles should be rotated, up and down, back and worth, and diagonal in both directions. Change up the patterns will add a beautiful design to the lawn as well as prevent the property from developing rivets.

WEEDWACKING/EDGING

To go along with mowing the property weekly, along with every cut the entire property should be week whacked and edged. Edging should be performed along any hard edge that the property which could be a flower bed, mulch bed, curb or driveway. Edging should be tight and clean and keeps grass from overgrowing out of where it is supposed to be going. Weed whacking should occur as well, and generally, any area that your lawn mower cannot reach should be hit with a weed whack at a length that is equal to the length of the cut grass. Weed whacking and edging properties increase the curb appeal of the property and give it a clean look.

FERTILIZING

Fertilizing your property is something that can bring many benefits to your property, there a tons of nutrients and give your lawn a fresh green look. Fertilizing can also help prevent weeds and lawn diseases. It is important to note that many people over fertilize their properties which will force your lawn to grow at an additional length which can make it difficult to maintain. Over-fertilizing can also cause your property to die out because of the overwhelming amount of nutrients.

WATERING

Watering your property should be something that is done as needed. Early in the spring month, you do not need to water your lawn too often. Spring generally brings plenty of participation that will keep the roots fresh. When the late summer heat waves begin, you should water your lawn about every day or every other day depending on how much sunlight your property gets.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care so keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

4 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MULCH!

WEED PREVENTION

There are many benefits to mulching your property that you may not know about! When mulch is spread, it not only makes your property clean fresh but it also helps to contain weeds. Mulch blocks the weeds from receiving sunlight, which stunts the growth weeds that are trying to pop up in your flower beds. To ensure that weeds to do sprout up for the season, organic weed killers, or weed prevention cloths should be put down before the spreading of the mulch. Keeping up with seasonal cleanups, and using these weed prevention techniques will help to keep your property fresh and clean this season.

MOISTURE RETENTION

Once a flower bed has mulch applied to it, the mulch retains moisture to the soil below which help whatever is planted in the garden grow stronger. When soil keeps good moisture well than it can be very beneficial to the plants year round but is especially helpful when there are heat waves or dry spells. The mulch will retain the moisture needed for the plants to grow and stay healthy. Mulch can not only save your plants, but it can save you money because plants can be very expensive to replace.

OVERALL GARDEN HEALTH

Mulching a property contributes to the overall health of your flower bed or garden. Once the mulch is spread than it helps retain the nutrients in the soil and once the mulch begins to break down, there is infused nutrients that will bring health to your soil.  On top of that mulch, help prevents erosion, when there are rain storms the mulch will soak up the water preventing it from directly impacting the soil below it which keep the soil from washing away. Mulch will attract earthworm, which will help keep your soil fresh and healthy. Worms look for moistened soil to live in and worms’ health the nutrient cycle in your garden or flower bed.

HOW MUCH SHOULD MULCH BE PUT DOWN?

When spreading mulch, it should generally be about 1-3 inches deep. You should always make sure that when spreading mulch, you lay it down constantly throughout the bed. You also must be cautious that you do not suffocate the plants' roots if mulch begins to be built up around a plant or trees base that it could kill the plant. Any questions about how much mulch your property needs should be directed toward a lawn care professional.

Pando Landscapes takes pride in providing customers with beautifully mulched properties. Pando always ensures that customers beds are adequately prepared, and mulched correctly on all occasions. We would love to mulch your property; please call today for a free estimate.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care so keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

4 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AERATION

WHAT IS IT?

Aeration is the process of putting many small holes throughout your lawn and doing this gives your yard a better opportunity to be able to take in water, air, and nutrients. Without aeration, it can be challenging for your lawn to retain the necessary water, air, and nutrients. Once the property is aerated, it also gives your lawns roots a better opportunity to grow thicker, deeper, and healthier. In many cases the soil on a property begins to become compact and restricts the lawn from developing to its fullest potential, aeration will help solve this problem, and give your property an opportunity to live at its healthiest state. If your grass does become deprived of these essential nutrients as well as the proper amounts of water, and air than when there are extremely high temperatures, and or extremely low temperatures than your grass will be more likely to thin out over time and eventually die off. If you have any question or concerns about your property needing aeration, you should contact a lawn care professional today!    

WHEN SHOULD AERATION BE DONE?

The best time for a lawn to be aerated is before and after it either goes into dormancy (early spring or late fall). It is essential that a lawn in the dormancy stage is not aerated because it will cause unwarranted stress for the yard. If you are located in Morris County and have cold weather grasses the best time for you to aerate your property is going to be early spring or early fall. However, if you have warm weather grasses which are more common in southern states, you should begin your aeration process in the late spring or the early summer months. Timing is very important in the process you should always confirm with a lawn care professional when looking to aerate the property because if the aeration project begins at an unfavorable time, there will be adverse effects to your property.

SHOULD YOU AERATE YOUR PROPERTY?

If your property experiences a lot of foot traffic, such as kids playing on the lawn, or pets running around the lawn soil compaction will begin to occur. If you have had a recent home renovation or some project that brought heavy machinery or a vehicle of some type driving or operating on your lawn than aeration can be a tool that could save your property. Additionally, large commercial lawn mowers can also cause soil compaction so if your lawn care professional does not properly shift its cutting patterns aeration will be required. If you want to test your property, you can stick a sharp object into your lawn and if it penetrates the soil with ease than your property most likely does not need any aeration.

WHAT TO DO AFTER AERATION!

Let your lawn heal! After the process of aeration is complete, you should stay off the lawn for a few days to allow for it to heal and rejuvenate. The chunks of the yard that come out from the aeration will naturally break down and go back into the lawn. It is also a great time to over seed the property after aeration, the newly aerated lawns give the seed a place to go and will expedient the growth process.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care so keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

DO APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS?

APRIL TEMPERATURES

In North Jersey, the month of April brings a variety of temperatures that can affect the growth of your lawn. In Morris County, the average temperatures in April are a high-temperature average of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and an average low temperature of 38 degrees. It is not a common occurrence, but there have been situations in history in which April temperatures have soared to over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, there have been some instances where New Jersey temperatures, have dropped to the low 20s. According to the weather predictions for this April, the expected temperatures for 2019 are to be slightly above average, so you do not have to worry about any extreme weather situations this season!

 APRIL PRECIPITATION

 The month of April has a reputation for being a very rainy month. In Morris County, the average amount of precipitation for April is 4.65 inches. When looking at the overall precipitation in the area of Morris County, the month of September average around 5.32 inches which is the highest average of any month, when looking at history rain is the only amount types of precipitation that fall in April, snow, and flurries can be a common occurrence in the early weeks of the month. Back in April 1915, there was a storm that brought 14 inches of snow, and that is not an April fool’s joke! Fortunately, with the temperature predictions we have for this season, we should not have any large snow storms, but we can expect a typical amount of rain.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR LAWN DURING APRIL?

When April rolls around it is time to begin, it is time to start cutting your lawn! In April if you have cold weather grasses which are common in Morris County, it is best to mow your lawn around 3 inches. Lawns should be cut to 1-2 times per week depending on how fast your grass is growing. When cutting your lawn, you must always ensure to have a sharp blade, many people neglect to sharpen their lawn mower blades, but that is a must if you want your lawn to be healthy and have a clean cut look to it. As for watering and rain, typically you do not need to water your lawn in April, there is usually enough rain to keep your lawn hydrated and healthy. If temperatures begin to rise, and there is no rain than you can water your lawn periodically. If you are fertilizing your property be sure to be aware of the rain forecast because if you are fertilizing before a storm the fertilizer will be washed away, and your lawn will not have enough time to take in the nutrients of the fertilizer. When spreading fertilizer, it is always important to be aware of the sewage systems and waterways because the fertilizer can cause severe damages to the wildlife fertilization in that area.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care so keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

WHY ARE SPRING CLEAN-UPS ESSENTIAL

SEASONS CHANGE

In New Jersey, we have the luxury of enjoying four beautiful seasons. However, with the change of seasons comes a lot of work for homeowners and landscaping professionals. Without the adequate equipment and manpower clearing your property of all the seasonal debris is near impossible. Contractor grade equipment allows for effective and affordable collection/removal of debris. Every lawn should seasonal cleanup service in the fall and spring. Every property is distinctive so your lawn care provider should develop a plan to help make your lawn healthy as possible this season. Having a reliable service provider is essential, you do not want to leave your property covered in unwanted debris for a prolonged time.

WHAT BASICS SHOULD BE DONE DURING CLEAN SPRING CLEAN-UPS?

When springtime rolls around every yard should get a spring clean-up. During these cleanups, all brush, leaves, and sticks should be removed off of your lawn to allow your yard to receive the natural amounts of sunlight and oxygen. Eliminating these items also allow for lawn mowers to be able to cut your property safely. Perennials and shrubs should be lightly pruned to keep shape and/or to promote new growth.  In addition, planted beds should be blown out and cleared of leaves and debris that has accumulated during the winter months. This will prepare the beds for a fresh mulch application and provide plants with the same essential nutrients we spoke about earlier. If the homeowner is interested in a mulch application, another essential for a healthy landscape, the spring is a wonderful time to edge the beds. The redefined edge will keep mulch from migrating into the lawn and the soft moist spring soil makes the process minimally invasive to root systems.

WHY SHOULD I GET A CLEAN-UP?

Clearing properties of unwanted mess is critical for the overall health of the turf and plants. Failure to remove said debris could result in the grass and plants being deprived of sunlight and oxygen. Most lawns in Morris County are made up of one or more cool-season grasses. "Cool-season" lawn grasses are so called because they are most active during those periods of the year when the weather is moderately cool. If blessed with enough sunlight, nutrients, water and ideal temperatures that are neither too cold nor too hot, cool-season grasses revitalize themselves. This is when they must "make hay," strengthening their root systems. But a thick layer of fallen leaves can get in the way of the growth of these grasses. Why? Because, for one thing, the leaves can deprive the grass of one of the critical elements just mentioned: sunlight. If not raked up in time, a thick or matted layer of fallen leaves casts too much shade over the grass below. In addition, moisture trapped by untouched piles of leaves will promote the growth of fungus, mold, and diseases.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care so keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

ARE YOU LIABLE??

HOW COULD I BE LIABLE?

When hiring a landscaper, contractor, gardener, or anyone else that you bring on to your property it is essential that the worker is fully insured. If there is a worker that you hire and they come on your property, and that the worker gets injured you could be subject to a lawsuit. When people are working on your property, it is very likely that they will be using some powerful equipment that if misused can seriously hurt someone else on the job and or themselves. Insurance is not only crucial for personal liability, but it is important because if any damages occur to your actual property from the contractor than the insurance will be able to cover the damages. Many situations occur when people who are uninsured cause severe damages to the property and leave the homeowner high and dry having to pay out of pocket for the damages.

WILL IT COST MORE TO HIRE A COMPANY THAT IS FULL INSURED?

Many people have the perception that companies who have insurance charge way higher prices. This may be something that is true in the short run, in most cases insured companies have slightly higher expenses overall forcing them to slightly increase their pricing on projects and services. Insured companies are also legitimate companies, so that means that they are paying taxes and following employment laws and regulations. With knowing this logic...would, you feel comfortable bringing in an illegal company to your home, with the uncertainty of safety, and the risk of getting sued? Paying slightly higher prices for legal insurance can save you millions of dollars in the long run in legal fees and settlements!

SHOULD I TRUST SOMEONE THAT TELLS ME THEY ARE INSURED?

In the United States, 75 percent of business do not have the proper insurance! When looking at small businesses 40 percent of these businesses have zero insurance at all! You should not trust the person's word of mouth; you should always ask for proof of insurance. Companies that are fully insured will be happy to provide you with proof of insurance! If companies are hesitant or combative when you ask for proof of insurance, you should be concerned.

Pando Landscapes is a fully insured legal company that takes pride in providing its services within the constraints of the law! Pando always takes the extra step in training employees on proper safety procedure and protocols when using equipment on clients’ properties.  Pando is proud that they can provide its clients with quality work, while also keeping employees safe, and operating under the umbrella of its insurance.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care and services to keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

PERENNIALS VS. ANNUALS

DIFFERENCES

When buying and planting different flowers, bushes  and vegetation it is important to know the difference between perennials and annuals to ensure that you understand the life cycle of your planting. A perennial plant is one that will rejuvenated growth yearly, and a annual is one that will only survive one life cycle, or one year. The reasons that these plants live such different lifestyles is because of their genetic make ups.

PERENNIALS

So what exactly are perennials? Perennial plants have roots that in the off season will go into a stage of dormancy in order to preserve the life of a plant. Perennial plants traditionally have a season of blooming, because they focus a lot of their energy into strengthening and growing their root systems so that they can survive the off season period when they enter the stage of dormancy.  Planting perennial plants are much less maintenance once they are planted it is only required that you keep up with the annual maintenance such as watering, weeding, and trimmings. When purchasing perennials be cautious of your zone (refer to previous ARE YOU IN THE ZONE? blog post for more information about your zone). If you accidentally or unknowingly plant a perennial that cannot handle to climate of your zone, the plant is destined to be scrawny and possibly wither away. If you are located in Morris county, here is are some perennials that thrive in your area, Bee balm, Coneflower, Salvia, Daisy, Daylily, Coral bells, Hosta, Hellebore.

ANNUALS

And annuals are.. Annuals are plants that only last one season. In a general sense annuals germinate from seeds. There are different types of annuals, mainly summer and winter annuals. Summer annuals begin their process of germination roughly around the month of April - June and are full matured by the months of September to October. Winter annuals start their germination process during the fall season and they will become full matured between the months of March to august of the following season. If you are a homeowner and you are beginning to seed nasty crabgrass developing on your property there is good news for you, crabgrass in a summer annual so it will not regenerate on its own next season, but it is recommended to take proper precaution in the spring to prevent this growth. Unlike perennials, annuals are less sensitive to the zone that they are being planted in due to the short life span that they have but it is always important to consult your zone if you want to have the healthiest growth in your plantings. If you are located in the Morris county are here are some annuals that thrive in growth in your area Angelonia, Bacopa, Begonia, Calibrachoa, Cleome, Cockscomb, Cosmos, Four O'Clocks, Pansies, and Sunflowers.

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave feedback and comments on our Facebook page. We will be posting a weekly blog post to educate people on lawn care and services to keep an eye out for our post! Additionally, if you have any question, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes’ team member today!

ARE YOU IN THE ZONE?

WHAT ZONE

USDA hardiness zones are something that every homeowner should be aware of. The USDA hardiness zone maps breaks up North America into eleven different zones based on climates and landscapes. These zones are brilliant tools to understand what types of plants and grass that you can successfully plant on your property. The zones will inform you if the plants you are looking to add to your property can handle the temperatures, seasonal cycles, and rainfalls that historically occur in your area. When shopping for plants, tree, or anything that you are going to plant on your property, in most cases, you can find what zone that the planting can flourish in.  It is always important to check these tags to avoid costly mistakes when gardening or planting. If you have any questions about what plants can grow in your zone, contact your landscaping professional for help!

HISTORY OF THE ZONE

The original zones were created in 1990, and like today depicted eleven different zones across the continent of North America. Each zone has a varying degree of average temperatures, that ranged to be about a 10-degree difference. In 2012 the USDA released an updated version of the zones. This new version of the map has a temperate that is roughly 5 degrees in difference from zone to zone. Along with that, there were more technologically advanced methods to charting the map.

WHAT ZONE ARE YOU?

The state of New Jersey has four different hardiness zones. These zone are zone 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. Zone 6a is located in the northern half of the state; Morris County is home to the 6a zone. This zone has mostly cold weather grasses planted, and the average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 6b has small patches located in southern and central jersey, most notably located in Atlantic County. The average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from -5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 7a is the largest and most common zone in the state of New Jersey. This ranges from Cumberland County to Monmouth County. The average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 7b the smallest zone in New Jersey and is really only located in Gloucester County. The average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

WHAT CAN YOU PLANT

If you make your home in Morris County, NJ there is a vast array of plants that thrive in your climate! However, there are many other factors to take into consideration when selecting plants. Soil types, sun exposure, native pests, moisture, and other factors all are significant when choosing the right plants. If this seems a bit overwhelming, or too time-consuming, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes team member today!

3 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT YOUR LAWN THIS WINTER

DORMANCY

What is happening to your grass in these cold winter months? In the winter months, your lawn goes into a stage of dormancy to survive by preserving energy in the form of nutrients in the cold, harsh winters. Cool season grasses begin to fall into dormancy when the temperatures consistently range below 45-55 degree Fahrenheit.  But cold weather is not the only thing that can force your lawn into a stage of dormancy, constant temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lack of moisture can also result in a lawn entering dormancy. If you start to see brown or burn spots occurring sporadically around your yard during a heat wave, your lawn most likely has entered a stage of dormancy. Just because your grass is turning brown does not mean it is dead. It simply is entering a state of “efficiency’ to endure the less than ideal conditions. Once soil temperatures reach an optimal level grasses will release nutrients stored in the roots and rejuvenate the sheaths and blades of grass. Taking proper precautions in the fall/spring will ensure that your lawn will come back to its true green self once the weather turns around.

KNOW YOUR LAW

The most common types of warm weather grasses in Morris County New Jersey are Kentucky bluegrass, Fine Fescue, Tall Fescue, or Perennial Ryegrasses. In the winter months, these grass types go dormant to survive and preserve energy. These grasses are fully prepared to handle temperatures of -5 degrees Fahrenheit. In Morris County, the first frost on the year typically begins in late October or early November and the last frost of the year generally occurs in early to mid-May. It is always important to understand your lawn and the sages that it goes through during each season.  Using grass seed or other plantings that are not consistent with grasses that can survive your climate can be a very costly mistake, so it is always recommended to contact a lawn care professional when looking to plant new seed, over seed or install perennial plantings.

KEEP IT CLEAN

What can you do to your lawn to protect it during a long stage of dormancy in these brutally cold winter months? It is relatively simple, keep your yard clear of leaves and brush. For families with children, it is also recommended to keep your lawn clear of toys, as well as reducing foot traffic on the yard. Watering your lawn in the winter should never be done, watering in the winter can cause bacteria, and molds to form on your grass that could lead to your lawn dying out — minimizing foot traffic in the cold winters it imperative keeping your lawn safe in the winter. Footprints can cause damage to the blades and will make it harder for grass to recover from the brutal winters. Stepping on grass that has ice on is also going to cause damages to your grass blades which can cause a lot of stress for your lawn in the spring. If you notice weeds or any types on general growth occurring on your yard during the winter month contact a professional, to have the growth removed before it can become out of control in the spring and summer months.

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact and Pando team member! We would love to hear from you!