Irrigation System

Watering Techniques: A Guide to Soil-Specific Strategies

Watering Landscaping: A Guide to Soil-Specific Strategies

As a homeowner, you take pride in your outdoor space, investing time and effort into creating a beautiful landscape that enhances your property’s curb appeal. However, one crucial aspect of landscape maintenance often gets overlooked: watering. Proper watering techniques can make all the difference between a thriving garden and a withered, brown mess. But did you know that the type of soil your plants are growing in plays a significant role in determining the best watering strategy?

Clay Soils: The Challenges and Opportunities

Clay soils are composed of tiny particles that are densely packed, making them prone to waterlogging. This can lead to root rot, nutrient deficiencies, and a host of other problems. However, clay soils also have some advantages. They tend to retain moisture well, reducing the need for frequent watering, and are often rich in nutrients.

Watering Strategies for Clay Soils:

1. Infrequent but Deep Watering: Clay soils benefit from infrequent, deep watering sessions. This encourages roots to grow deeper, making them more resistant to drought. Aim to water your clay soil plants every 7-10 days during hot weather, and every 4-6 weeks during cooler months.
2. Avoid Overwatering: Clay soils are susceptible to waterlogging, so it’s essential to avoid overwatering. Check the soil moisture by inserting your finger into the soil up to the knuckle. If the soil feels damp, wait a few more days before watering again.
3. Mulch and Compost: Mulching and composting can help improve the structure of clay soils, increasing their water-holding capacity and reducing the risk of waterlogging.

Sandy Soils: The Challenges and Opportunities

Sandy soils, on the other hand, are composed of large particles that drain quickly, making them prone to drying out. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies, as essential nutrients are washed away with the water. However, sandy soils also have some advantages. They warm up quickly in the spring, allowing for earlier planting, and are often well-draining, reducing the risk of waterlogging.

Watering Strategies for Sandy Soils:

1. Frequent but Shallow Watering: Sandy soils require more frequent, shallow watering sessions. This helps to prevent drying out and ensures that plants receive a steady supply of moisture. Aim to water your sandy soil plants every 3-5 days during hot weather, and every 7-10 days during cooler months.
2. Use Drought-Tolerant Plants: Sandy soils are ideal for drought-tolerant plants, which require less water and can thrive in these conditions. Consider incorporating plants like succulents, cacti, or native grasses into your landscape.
3. Add Organic Matter: Adding organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure can help improve the water-holding capacity of sandy soils, reducing the need for frequent watering.

Additional Tips for Effective Watering

1. Monitor Weather Conditions: Adjust your watering schedule according to weather conditions. During hot, dry spells, increase watering frequency. During cool, rainy periods, reduce watering frequency.
2. Use Efficient Irrigation Systems: Invest in efficient irrigation systems like drip irrigation or soaker hoses, which deliver water directly to the roots, reducing evaporation and runoff.
3. Water in the Morning: Water your plants in the morning, allowing the plants to absorb the water throughout the day. Avoid watering in the evening, as this can encourage fungal growth and other problems.

Watering your landscape effectively requires a deep understanding of your soil type and its unique characteristics. By adopting soil-specific watering strategies, you can ensure your plants receive the right amount of moisture to thrive. Remember, clay soils benefit from infrequent, deep watering, while sandy soils require frequent, shallow watering. By incorporating these techniques into your landscape maintenance routine, you’ll be well on your way to creating a lush, vibrant outdoor space that enhances your property’s value and beauty.

Don’t let your hard work and investment in your landscape go to waste. Proper watering techniques can make all the difference between a thriving garden and a withered, brown mess. By adopting soil-specific watering strategies, you’ll not only save time and money on water bills, but you’ll also enjoy a more beautiful, resilient outdoor space that brings joy and relaxation to your family and friends. So, take the first step today and start watering your landscape like a pro and Contact Lawn Systems, Inc. for all your landscaping needs!

At Lawn Systems, Inc., we have a program in place to help will all your fertilization needs, call us today to set up your scheduled fertilization visits!

Remember to look to our professional line of services to keep your home and business lawn and landscaping looking great and with our help – maintenance free! Our services include: Sprinkler Systems, Landscaping, Lighting, Water Drainage Solutions, Outdoor Living Concepts, Water Features, Fertilization – Take a look at our gallery and read more about lawn services on our blog!

We serve the St. Louis community and the surrounding cities: Ballwin, Clayton, Fenton, Chesterfield, Ladue, Kirkwood, St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, Webster Groves and our surrounding area, call us today!

Landscaping and Irrigation Services Enhance The Beauty and Function Of Outdoor Spaces

Landscaping and irrigation services play a pivotal role in the health and longevity of your property. Whether it’s a residential property or a commercial establishment, a well-designed landscape can create a lasting impression and significantly increase the value of the property.

When it comes to landscaping, professionals offer a wide range of services to transform ordinary spaces into stunning outdoor retreats. They have the expertise to design and install various elements such as pathways, patios, gardens, and water features that harmonize with the existing architecture and natural surroundings. With their knowledge of plants, they can create a balanced and visually appealing landscape that thrives in the local climate.

In addition to aesthetics, landscaping services also focus on functionality. Professionals can design outdoor spaces that cater to specific needs, such as creating a play area for children, installing a barbecue pit for entertaining guests, or designing a peaceful corner for relaxation. They consider factors like drainage, soil quality, and sunlight exposure to ensure that the landscape remains healthy and sustainable in the long run.

Irrigation services are an integral part of maintaining a healthy landscape. Efficient irrigation systems ensure that plants receive the right amount of water, reducing water wastage and promoting water conservation. Professionals can design and install irrigation systems tailored to the specific needs of the landscape, taking into account factors like plant types, soil conditions, and local climate. They can also provide regular maintenance and repairs to ensure the system operates optimally.

In conclusion, landscaping and irrigation services offer a comprehensive approach to creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces. From designing and installing landscapes that enhance the aesthetics and functionality of a property to implementing efficient irrigation systems that promote water conservation, professionals in this field play a vital role in transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones. Whether it’s a residential garden or a commercial property, investing in professional landscaping and irrigation services can greatly enhance the overall appeal and value of any outdoor space.

Welcome to our blog where we want you to know more about how your landscaping an irrigation projects can be successfully achieved with our professionals at Lawn Systems, Inc.!

Lawn Systems Fertilization Program

Lawn Systems is excited for the growing season to begin with our Fertilization Program! Crabgrass seed begins to germinate when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees. Applying crabgrass preventers in early spring will protect your lawn from the majority of unsightly crabgrass in the summer months to come. Justin, Clay, Nick, and Jesse are ready to get your lawn greened up as we transition into spring!

Lawn Systems offers 2 programs. The Plus program is our 6-step fertilization program which includes: grub and insect control, pre and post emergent weed control, and our golf course quality fertilizers. The Premium program is the Plus Fertilization package along with Fall Core aeration and Winning Colors Fescue overseeding. Prepaying for aeration and seeding guarantees your service to be complete during optimum germination period.

Lawn System’s Plus 6-Step Fertilization Program***

Round 1: Crabgrass Preventer – Fertilizer plus crabgrass preventer – (March/April)
Round 2: Pre-emergent Herbicides – Fertilizer plus pre-emergent herbicide – (April/May)
Round 3: Preparing for the Heat – Complete fertilizer and weed control – (May/June)
Round 4: Grub Control** – Summer Guard fertilizer & grub and insect control – (June/July)
Round 5: Summer Recovery – Balanced fertilizer and weed control – (August/September)
Round 6: Winterizer – Winter fertilizer and weed control – (October/November)

*Nutsedge control is provided with each scheduled application, if additional nutsedge control is needed there may be an additional charge.

**Round 4 is a double application – Summer Guard fertilizer and grub/insect control- timing is based on the life cycle of the Japanese Beetle

***Lawn Systems uses only the highest quality fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and seed in order to produce the best possible results. St. Louis weather can cause delays in our ability to apply chemicals in respect to the product label and Missouri Department of Agriculture guidelines. We apologize for any delays in services due to weather conditions throughout the growing season.

Get easy and reliable fertilization services by contacting us today. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers throughout St. Louis, Missouri.

Bed Treatment Program

A bed treatment program might be just what you need when you are tired of pulling weeds in your landscape beds. The last thing you want to put on your “to-do” list for the weekend is pulling weeds! With our system, you can cross this chore off your list and let us keep them under control for you!

Spring Application – Pre-Emergent Herbicide Application, Organic Fertilization, Spring Broadleaf Weed Control
Summer Application – Pre-Emergent Herbicide Application, Nature’s Safe Fertilizer, Post-Emergent Weed Control
Fall Application – Pre-Emergent Herbicide Application, Organic Fertilization, Fall Weed Control

Get easy and reliable bed treatment services by contacting us today. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers throughout St. Louis, Missouri.

Compost Topdressing During Aeration and Over-seeding

Aeration and Over-seeding your lawn with organic compost is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to replenish the health of your lawn. St. Louis soil is abundant in heavy clay, and over time the amount of healthy soil and available nutrients for grass roots to grow becomes depleted.

Core aeration removes plugs from the soil to alleviate compaction, allowing grass roots to breathe. We core aerate your lawn corner to corner to give uniform results. After aeration the lawn is over-seeded with Winning Colors Fescue.

Lawn System’s technique of combining compost topdressing with the core aeration process has yielded excellent results. After the lawn is core aerated, the compost is worked over the soil surface into the aeration holes to restructure the composition of the soil. Our compost comes from St. Louis Composting and is completely organic. Compost also provides a perfect media for grass seed to germinate, and is a great solution to grow grass in difficult areas of your lawn.

Get easy and reliable aeration and over-seeding services by contacting us today. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers throughout St. Louis, Missouri.

Fungicide Prevention Program

Take the proper precautions for a healthy lawn and schedule Lawn Systems, Inc. today for a beautiful lawn!

The Fungicide Prevention Program consists of ( 3 ) applications of granular fungicide. Headway G is the primary fungicide used during the program to prevent diseases. The applications are spaced 21-28 days apart starting when weather conditions become favorable for disease activity. The prevention program warranties your lawn from becoming terminal due to disease activity. If your grass dies as a result of disease, we will fix it in the fall at no cost.

Get easy and reliable fungicide prevention services by contacting us today. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers throughout St. Louis, Missouri.

Lime and Iron Treatment

Lime and Iron treatments are excellent for low pH soils where constant moss is present. As part of our fertilization program we routinely apply lime and iron to the lawn in order prevent the pH levels from dropping. But in order to start raising low pH levels closer to neutral conditions- sometimes heavy supplements become necessary. Oak and pine trees are notorious for contributing to low pH levels. Doing yearly treatments will eventually get the lawn to a neutral pH which is much easier to maintain.

Iron is a micronutrient that allows the grass tissues to store more chlorophyll cells, which gives the lawn a darker green appearance. This is great for getting a lawn to really show off. This is a quick release effect which means the effects will last for a few of weeks.

Get easy and reliable lime and iron treatment services by contacting us today. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers throughout St. Louis, Missouri.