Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Lawn Go to Seed

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

If you’ve discovered one or more bare patches of grass in your lawn, you might assume that letting your lawn go to seed will fill the bare patch or patches.

Grass is a plant, and like most plants, they reproduce by developing and releasing seeds. By intentionally neglecting your lawn, your grass will develop new seeds to fill bare patches – a process known as “going to seed.”

While letting your lawn go to seed may sound harmless, it’s typically a bad idea for several reasons.

Weeds

You can expect more weeds in your lawn if you let it go to seed.

Mowing your lawn doesn’t just cut the grass; it cuts the weeds. When you let your lawn go to seed, though, you won’t be able to mow it, resulting in more weeds.

During the spring and summer months, weeds can quickly take over your lawn if you rarely or never mow it.

A good rule of thumb is to mow your lawn weekly during the spring and summer. But it can take over a month for grass to produce new seeds.

Therefore, allowing your lawn to go to seed will pave the way for weeds.

Thinning

Your lawn may become thinner if you let it go to seed. Grass consumes more energy when it’s producing seeds.

Rather than using nutrients from the soil to fill bare patches, it will use nutrients to produce new seeds.

As a result, allowing your lawn to go to seed won’t fill bare patches. It actually has the opposite effect by promoting a thinner lawn with a greater number of bare patches.

Ineffective

Native grass typically produces seeds that, when germinated, will grow into new blades of grass.

The problem with residential lawn grasses, however, is that many consist of hybrid varieties that don’t germinate.

Your grass may still produce new seeds – assuming you don’t mow it regularly – but the seeds won’t sprout into new grass blades.

Pests

Another reason you shouldn’t let your lawn go to seed is the potential for pests.

Many insects feast on the seeds produced by grass. And because many residential grasses produce non-germinating seeds, these seeds will blanket your lawn while providing insects with a readily available source of food.

If you’re struggling to control insects around your home, you should mow your lawn regularly rather than allowing it to go to seed.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

The post Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Lawn Go to Seed appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.

How to Eliminate and Control Henbit Weeds

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Is your lawn overrun with henbit weeds?

While Texas is home to dozens of weeds, few are as common as henbit. And with its ability to grow over 1 foot tall, it’s a major nuisance for homeowners in The Lone Star State.

The good news is that there are ways to eliminate and control henbit weeds.

What Is Henbit?

Lamium amplexicaule, or what’s more commonly known as henbit, is a type of annual weed that emerges from the soil during the fall season and begins flowering in the spring season.

When flowering, henbit produce colorful flowers with fuzz-covered leaves.

Because of its ability to grow over 1 foot tall, henbit consumes a substantial amount of moisture and nutrients from the soil.

As a result, your grass – as well as flowers, trees and other good plants – may suffer from lack of moisture or lack of nutrition.

Fill in Your Lawn

You can discourage henbit from growing in your lawn by filling open spaces containing little or no grass.

Henbit typically grows in open areas such as this. If there’s little or no grass, henbit won’t have to compete for moisture and nutrients, thereby allowing it to quickly grow.

To prevent this from happening in your lawn, you need to reseed open areas. Apply a mixture of fertilizer and seed to fill open areas so that they aren’t susceptible to henbit or other weeds.

Raise Your Lawnmower Blade

Another way to keep henbit out of your lawn is to raise your lawnmower blade.

Many homeowners assume that it’s best to use the lowest blade setting, believing it will save them time and energy. While it’s true that using the lowest blade setting will reduce the frequency at which you need to mow your lawn, it also paves the way for weeds, including henbit.

If your grass isn’t tall enough, henbit may emerge through the soil. Therefore, you should consider raising your lawnmower blade to at least 2 inches if you’re worried about henbit.

Apply Herbicide

Of course, you can use herbicide to spot treat areas of your lawn in which henbit is growing.

2,4-D Amine is a popular herbicide used in the treatment of henbit. Alternatively, you can make your own herbicide using vinegar, water and dish soap.

Whether you use store-bought or homemade herbicide, use caution when applying it to ensure it doesn’t get on your grass.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

The post How to Eliminate and Control Henbit Weeds appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.

6 Tips to Stop Birds From Eating Grass Seed

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Birds are typically a welcome addition to a landscape – but not if you’re planting grass seed.

Whether it’s fescue, St. Augustine, Kentucky bluegrass or Bermuda, birds love to feast on nutrient-rich grass seed. Unfortunately, sowing your lawn won’t do any good if birds devour the seed.

There are several precautions you can take, however, to stop birds from eating your grass seed.

#1) Plant Deeper in Soil

Planting your grass seed deeper in the soil will lower the risk of it being devoured by birds.

Most birds spend their time scavenging food on the ground. They generally won’t dig very deep into the soil. By placing your grass seed at least a half-inch deep, birds won’t be able to easily access it.

#2) Cover With Straw or Pine Needles

Another way to stop birds from eating your grass seed is to cover it with straw or pine needles.

After sowing your lawn with new grass seed, cover it with a thin but complete layer of straw or pine needles. The presence of the straw or pine needles will conceal your grass seed so that birds are less likely to spot it.

#3) Install a Net

While it’s a bit more laborious than using straw or pine needles, installing a net over your newly planted grass seed can protect it from birds.

Most gardening stores and plant nurseries sell netting material that’s designed specifically for this purpose. Consisting of a plastic mesh material, you can install the netting over your newly sowed lawn to protect it from birds.

#4) Mix With Fertilizer

Birds are less likely to eat your grass seed if you mix it with fertilizer beforehand.

Fertilizer often contains chemicals that are safe – or even beneficial – for plants but toxic to birds and other animals. Birds can sense fertilizer, and if it’s mixed with grass seed, they’ll tend to avoid it.

#5) Scare Them Away

You can always try to scare birds away from your lawn.

Hanging a wind chime from a nearby tree branch, for example, may scare away birds. The metal-on-metal sound produced by the wind chimes will deter birds so that they are less likely to eat your grass seed.

#6) Install a Bird Feeder

Something as simple as installing a bird feeder may stop birds from eating your grass seed.

If you discover birds gathering in a particular area of your lawn, install a bird feeder in that area. With a readily available source of food, the birds should stay away from your grass seed.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

The post 6 Tips to Stop Birds From Eating Grass Seed appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.

A Beginner’s Guide to Using Landscape Timbers

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

If you’re looking to improve the appearance of your landscape, you should consider using landscape timbers.

Offering both aesthetic and functional benefits, they can improve your landscape in several ways.

In case this is your first time hearing about them, though, you might be wondering how to use landscape timbers.

What Are Landscape Timbers?

Available for sale at most home improvement stores, as well as plant nurseries and gardening stores, landscape timbers are long pieces of solid wood.

They typically measure between 3 and 6 inches wide, and they can have either sharp or rounded ends. They are called “landscape timbers” because they are designed primarily for use in landscaping projects.

Other types of timber are used for construction projects, but landscape timbers are used for landscaping projects.

Build a Raised Flowerbed

You can build a raised flowerbed with landscape timbers.

This otherwise common landscaping project involves laying timbers around the perimeter of your flowerbed to create a frame, after which you can fill the interior space with soil. Once filled with soil, you can then plant flowers inside the frame.

Some homeowners assume that raised flowerbeds are difficult and time-consuming to build, but this isn’t necessarily true.

With landscape timbers, you can build a fully functional, as well as attractive, raised flowerbed with minimal effort.

Build Containers for Trees

In addition to raised flowerbeds, you can use landscape timbers to build containers for trees.

If you have one or more trees that play an important role in your landscape’s aesthetics, try building a container around them. With landscape timbers, you can easily build tree containers to achieve a cleaner and better-looking landscape.

To build a tree container, create a square- or rectangular-shaped frame around the perimeter of the tree.

The container won’t prevent the tree’s roots from spreading into and throughout the soil. It will, however, keep weeds and other invasive plants from encroaching into the tree’s territory.

Define Edges

You can use landscape timbers pretty much anywhere in your landscape to define the edges.

Whether it’s a flowerbed, sidewalk or even an outdoor living area, landscape timbers are the perfect solution for defining the edges.

Keep in mind that you should choose Eco-friendly landscape timbers, especially if you’re planning to use them around flowers or trees.

Pressure-treated landscape timbers are typically a poor choice because they contain harsh chemicals that will leak into the surrounding soil.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Using Landscape Timbers appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.