Do you have lawn envy? (Patience is key!)
A beautiful front lawn makes a great first impression, and having a beautiful, lush, green (weed-free) lawn is the pride of any Hamptons homeowner. Sadly, however, not every homeowner near us currently has a beautiful lawn. But, the good news is that our certified team knows how to fix this!
We know the steps needed to help your lawn and we know that lawn health care programs work over a period of time. We also know that a lush green lawn is a result of careful cultivation, monitoring, and precision treatment - exactly what we offer!.
The Benefits of Implementing our Lawn Health Care Program
Your lawn is a living, breathing ecosystem, and our goal is to maximize your lawn's health and performance! Foot traffic compaction, summer heat stress, and water issues are only a few things that may adversely affect your lawn, whether it be sod or seed. With our comprehensive lawn health care program, we refresh your lawn each year, making it stronger each spring, and keeping it strong throughout each season.
At Dragonfly Landscape Design, our lawn health care program is designed to provide short-term results while keeping long-term sustainability in mind. And, with each visit to your property, our licensed and certified team will monitor for visible changes, treat present issues, AND take preventative actions to avoid ongoing to future damage caused by diseases, insects, and unsightly weeds. Taking care of your lawn is easy with Dragonfly Landscape Design. From choosing the right type of grass seed, to spot treating for pesky weeds, we have you covered year-round.
You can expect our Lawn Health Care Program to:
- Build a thick, green, and healthy lawn (over time)
- Feed and strengthen your lawn’s root system (for this season and next)
- Treat and prevent pesky weeds
- Treat and deter diseases and fungus
- Treat and deter damaging insect populations within your lawn
- Help protect your lawn against heat, drought, and burning by enhancing your lawn’s nutrient uptake and water retention
- Improve soil composition with an active ecosystem of microbials
We take our time to spot treat for weed control and other issues, and our program features slow-release fertilizers and reduced-risk pesticides to keep your lawn healthy, green, pest-free, and, most importantly, safe for you, your family, your pets, and the environment.
Labels for the products we use to support your lawn and plant health care can be found on the resources page of this website.
Plus Natural Fertilizer From Mowing Too
In addition to including fertilizer applications as part of our lawn health care program, all Dragonfly Landscape Design mowing clients benefit from our use of mulching blades on our mowers. Mulching blades feature more curves and an increased cutting edge which allow the blades to cut the grass and bring it into the deck where the grass is cut several more times before falling back onto the lawn in much smaller pieces. The two key benefits of returning the mulched grass clippings to the lawn follow:
- Mulched grass clippings are a natural fertilizer - The cuttings (which are equally distributed into the lawn) provide nitrogen and phosphates which are natural fertilizers.
- Mulched grass clippings are environmentally friendly - Mulching the cuttings into the lawn minimizes grass catching and dumping, and piles of grass clippings don’t just decompose without consequences. When heaped in a pile, the thin blades of grass compact, which then depletes oxygen. The nitrogen and phosphorous become concentrated and this results in a lumpy pile of slimy grass, stinking of ammonia with the added impact of leaching nitrogen and phosphorous leach into the ground (and groundwater!). Mulching blades help us avoid dumping grass cuttings!
Your Lawn is More than Just Pretty
In addition to being beautiful, healthy lawns are important and provide a number of benefits to you and the environment:
- Lawns add value - Ask any realtor and they will tell you that a residential property with a healthy lawn and landscape will sell at a premium price. Think curb appeal!
- Lawns offer a cooler surface - 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. A lush lawn will keep your yard cooler!
- Lawns improve air quality - Lawns not only create oxygen (essential for human life), but lawns remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and trap pollutants such as soot and dust. Cleaner air means better breathing as well as cleaner cars, houses, and windows. And, a weed-free lawn means less weed pollen (a relief to those with allergies)
- Lawns improve soil structure - Healthy lawns keep the soil structure loose and open, with plenty of pores for water to soak through and replenish groundwater
- Lawns prevent erosion (and improve water quality) - Healthy lawns also filter rainfall, reduce runoff, and retain sediment
- Lawns reduce noise - While your lawn is busy 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!
- Lawns improve wellness and reduce stress - Studies show that green spaces lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension related to stress, improve attention, and reduce feelings of fear, anger, and aggression.
- Lawns encourage activity - Lawns provide places for recreation and encourage outdoor activity - very important alternatives to being connected to phones and tablets!
Additional Lawn Care Services
In addition to fertilizing and controlling lawn weeds, lawn diseases, and damaging lawn insects, while we are monitoring your property our certified team of applicators may also suggest several additional annual services:
Spring Lawn Dethatching
Lawn thatch is the layer of dead grass, roots, and debris that accumulates between the soil surface and the green grass blades above. A thin layer of thatch (less than ½ inch) can be beneficial to a lawn, helping insulate it from extreme temperatures and foot traffic. It can also reduce weed germination by keeping weed seeds from reaching the soil and helping retain soil moisture.
Excessive thatch, however, can cause numerous issues. Over time, thatch can form a thick mat, hindering water and air from reaching the soil and providing an environment that can encourage pests and disease. Too much thatch can also limit the ability of insecticides and pre-emergent herbicides to reach their intended target. Like a majority of things in life, thatch is best in moderation. Controlling thatch is a very important – and most often overlooked – part of lawn care. Almost every lawn needs dethatching about once every other year, or whenever the thatch reaches a thickness over 1/2 inch.
Fall Core Aeration & Overseeding - the Secret to a Great lawn!
Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate to the root system of your lawn. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn. Aeration also helps to alleviate soil compaction. Compacted soils have too many solid particles in a certain volume or space, preventing proper circulation of air, water, and nutrients within the soil. Excess lawn thatch or heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface can also starve the roots from these essential elements.
Benefits of Core Aeration and Overseeding:
- Aeration reduces soil compaction - Just as you wouldn’t try to plant a flower in concrete… a rock-hard soil bed is not conducive to a great lawn either! Loose soil allows grass roots to plunge deeper into the soil to find vital water resources in times of stress.
- Aeration reduces thatch - Thatch is made up of grass stems and roots that accumulate faster than they break down. Excessive thatch creates an environment that is favorable to pests and disease.
- Aeration allows access to the root zone - By penetrating the soil, you’re allowing moisture, air, and food to the root zone where nutrients are absorbed.
- Aeration enhances seed germination - Seeds germinate easily in aerated holes as the holes provide the seeds with a place to hide.
- Overseeding introduces new grass seed to fill in bare or thin areas as well as to thicken existing turf - Over time, grass plants reach their peak and need to be replaced. Different factors contribute to the breakdown of the grass including foot traffic, heat, lack of water, environmental conditions, pet waste, etc.
- Overseeding builds resistance to disease - By incorporating different blends of grass seed you reduce your lawn's susceptibility to diseases (some of which can wipe out an entire lawn!)
- Aeration and overseeding will help to reduce weeds - Opportunistic weeds germinate in areas where they can be successful. Crabgrass grows in thin areas, nutsedge pops up in thin/low spots, and broadleaf weeds spread where there is little desirable grass. The best defense is to have a thick lawn.
Aeration and overseeding will rapidly improve your lawn’s current appearance!
Reliable Lawn Care in the GREATER WESTHAMPTON AREA
We serve the lawns of properties in the greater Westhampton area (Eastport, Remsenburg, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Westhampton Dunes, Quiogue, Quogue, East Quogue, Hampton Bays) and neighboring communities. We are here to deliver professional service, local expertise, and responsive customer support for your landscaping projects.
Call us at (631) 288-8158, contact us or email us at info@dragonflyltd.com to get your lawn ready for the summer!
