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August

grass seed mistakes
grass seed mistakes

When you are putting down grass seed to create a new lawn, there are 5 grass seed mistakes that you want to avoid. Making these mistakes can cause you problems and make you lose time and money.

Grass Seed Mistakes 1 – Not Testing the pH Level of Your Soil

Before you seed a lawn, it’s important to test the pH level of the soil to find out how acidic it is. Even if your soil appears to be healthy, it might be too alkaline or acidic for growing your grass. For most grass varieties, a level of 5.5-7 is needed.

Grass Seed Mistake 2 – Not Using the Right Kind of Seed

Another mistake that many homeowners make is they choose the wrong kind of seed. When you’re looking for a seed for your lawn, you’re going to find a lot to choose from. Some types prefer a different kind of climate so they can grow. Before choosing your seed type, make sure that it works in your particular climate.

Grass Seed Mistakes 3 – Only Relying on Rain

It’s not a good idea to just rely on the rain to water the grass seeds. If there isn’t rain in your forecast, a sprinkler is needed. If they don’t get water, those seeds aren’t going to grow. However, you also don’t want to use an excess of water.

Grass Seed Mistake 4 – Not Aerating Your Soil

You want to make sure that you’re aerating your soil before you seed a lawn. This will create tiny holes in your soil for the seeds to enter. If the lawn isn’t aerated, your grass seeds simply will sit on the soil. As time goes by, these superficial seeds are going to be eaten by the animals or blown away by the wind.

When you aerate the lawn, those seeds are going to dig deeper in the soil, protecting themselves from animals and wind.

Grass Seed Mistake 5 – Not Correctly Measuring the Yard

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you are putting down grass seed is not measuring the lawn. Before you seed, it’s important to know just how much of the seed you are going to need for covering your yard.

When you put down too much, it’s going to mean that the seeds are competing for their root space. It can also negatively impact nutrient uptake and structure. You also don’t want to use too little. This is going to cause bare patches. Measure the yard and then order the seeds accordingly. This will help you get the right density.

If you are interested in having new grass seed put down and you are looking for a company to do it so you can avoid these grass seed mistakes, contact us. We’ll be happy to give you a quote and help you have a beautiful lawn.

May

SPRING LAWN CARE TIPS
Spring in Minnesota can be unpredictable and contradictory – 34 degrees and sleet one day, and 70 degrees with perfect blue skies and sunshine the next. While it’s tempting to get outside on that first warm day and tackle all your lawn care projects, don’t do too much too quickly. Here are a few spring lawn care tips.

DRY IS BEST
The snow may be melted, but wait until the ground and grass are mostly dry before raking. If the turf is too soft, you may pull grass up by its roots. If your lawn suffers from snow mold (circular, straw-colored patches), you’ll want to gently rake these areas to promote drying and prevent further fungal growth.

AERATE IN THE SPRING AND FALL
While fall is typically the best time to aerate Minnesota lawns, if the yard is hard, bumpy, or packed, you may want to consider aerating in spring with a fall follow-up. Weeds love hard-packed soil.

FERTILIZE
Like any plant, grass needs food to survive. Fertilizers provide missing nutrients. Lawns that require a higher level of maintenance, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, will need an early application of fertilizer. Shady or lower-maintenance lawns need about half as much fertilizer.

GOT WEEDS?
Minnesota lawns can fall victim to a wide variety of weeds:
• Broadleaf, like dandelion, thistle, and Creeping Charlie. Spring is the best time to use chemically-based methods to control annual weeds such as chickweed and knotweed.
• Grass Weeds, like crabgrass and foxtail, should be treated pre-emergence in the spring.

The amount and types of weeds can vary from lawn to lawn, even in the same neighborhood, so treatment may differ as well.

SEED OR SOD
If your lawn has seen better days, it may be time to take additional maintenance steps. There are pros and cons for both seeding and laying sod. Seeding can be time-consuming and frustrating, taking a longer time for the lawn to become established and dense. Sod is a cleaner, quicker option, but may not produce the same quality lawn that results from seeding. Spring is a good time to lay sod, but it’s better to wait until late summer or early fall to seed.

There are a lot of elements that go into a well-maintained, appealing lawn. CB Services has the experience and know-how you need to keep your lawn looking its best. Call us today for a no-obligation estimate for your outdoor maintenance needs. We’ll keep your lawn looking its best – and you can enjoy summer! Visit our website for more information about our lawn care services and contact us today!

May

INTRODUCING OUR NEW WEBSITE
We’re very excited to announce that CB Services has launched our new website!

We invite you to spend a few minutes exploring the fresh, new website design. It’s easy to navigate in order to learn about each of our services. We offer a number of residential and commercial outdoor maintenance services, including:

Lawn Care – consistent, quality lawn mowing, fertilization, spring and fall cleanup, and more.
Landscaping Services – design, installation, improvements, maintenance, and more.
Irrigation – system installation, sprinkler head repair, winterization, and more.
Snow and Ice Removal – Driveway, parking lot, and sidewalk snow and ice removal, and more.

EXCITING NEW FEATURES
Our new website also features an easy-to-use form to request a service estimate. Simply fill out the form and we’ll contact you to discuss your outdoor maintenance needs and discuss next steps.

CB Services clients can now manage their accounts with our Client Login. This provides convenient, instant access to your account information and the option to pay your bill online.

In addition, we’ve added a blog. Stay-up-to-date on the news from CB Services as well as the latest information about outdoor maintenance services.

Visit our Photo Gallery for a sampling of the work we’ve done for homeowners and businesses in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and the surrounding northwestern suburbs.

ABOUT CB SERVICES
CB Services is a local, family-owned and operated business. We take great pride in our community and the level of service that we provide to each of our customers. Our outdoor maintenance experts work closely with you to fully understand your needs and the scope of every project.

We’re dedicated to delivering quality, customized work, whether you need consistent lawn mowing and snow removal or creative outdoor living spaces and stunning landscape design.

With a combined 40 years of experience in the outdoor maintenance services industry, CB Services provides exceptional service and care at a competitive price. We’re fully licensed and insured, and are a member of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association as well as the Snow and Ice Management Association.

Interested in learning more about our residential and commercial outdoor maintenance services? Visit our website and contact us today!