One of the most influential elements of any successful lawn or garden, is the soil. Soil is what helps a plant absorb necessary nutrients, and testing it periodically is imperative. The pH levels in your soil can truly make or break it, and maintaining healthy levels, means beautiful grass and plants. Simply Green Lawn Care is committed to bringing greener, healthier lawns to the Atlanta area, and that is why we have broken down what all of this means for your lawn.

What it is.

So what is pH? When we measure pH, we are measuring the acidity and the alkalinity in something. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being a neutral number. Anything above 7 means an alkaline heavy soil, and below 7 means that it is a more acidic soil. Our soil in Georgia tends to be more acidic, and a good range for soil in Georgia tends to be between 5.8 and 6.5.

How do I check the pH levels of my soil?

You can send a soil sample to a local extension service, and they will check the levels for a fee. Simply Green Lawn Care also offers these services for a small fee. This test will determine the pH levels of your soil, along with phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese and iron levels.

What does it mean if these levels are off?

If the soil has a low pH of something like 5.5 and below, plants and grass are unable to receive the nutrients that they needs. If you fertilized, a large portion of it is going to waste, and the rich color of your lawn will begin to dwindle. After the results have come back, adjustments in lawn care treatments should be made accordingly.

Simply Green Lawn Care offers top-notch services for the home and business. If you would like to have us test your soil and treat your lawn, please contact us!

If you have a lush tall fescue lawn, you probably want to keep it that way. We discussed the importance of pre-emergent last week, but if you have tall fescue, it is imperative that you fertilize this time of year!

Tall fescue does best in warm climates, like here in Georgia. It can grow in several different types of soil and is resilient to drought. Simply Green Lawn Care encourages treatments now, to promote the healthiest, best looking lawn possible.

Fertilizing this time of year isn’t an arbitrary decision, however. There is a lot of science and reasoning behind it. We have put together a list of reasons why you should fertilize now for the best results later.

• Fertilizing now will promote a greener, more vibrant lawn in the spring! This has been proven season after season. Fertilizing in February will provide you with a rewarding spring and summer season of rich, green fescue.
• It can help avoid brown patches in your lawn. Fescue is subject to brown patches during periods of excessive heat and moisture. Living in the south, this is almost inevitable with high temperatures and humidity.
• Fescue does not recover well on it’s own. If the lawn has had a lot of foot traffic or wear from pets, fertilization is a necessity.
• Fertilization in warm weather is not advisable; doing this can prevent necessary nutrients from getting to the roots of the grass.

If you have a tall fescue lawn, contact us for a treatment today! We will have your grass looking the best it ever has for spring and summer!

You may not see them now, but those weeds you try to avoid are looming in the distance. Just when you thought crab grass was a thing of the past, it will rear its ugly head in the spring and summer. Pre-emergent is essential to preventing these eyesores. It stops the weeds from growing before it spreads. We are gearing up at Simply Green Lawn Care for these pesky annual weeds. How does it all work though? 

Pre-emergent facts:

• The herbicide enters the plant through the root, and works its way from the outside-in to prevent the weed from growing successfully.
• It will not kill established plants. This is the beauty of pre-emergent, while it infiltrates crab grass before it starts growing, it will not kill your lawn.
• Timing is key when using pre-emergent. If the annual weed has already established itself, pre-emergent will not help. It is key to hit the weed before it has a chance to grow. Now, in late January and early February is a perfect time to begin with treatments.
• If it is mid to late spring, and the weeds have had time to grow, post-emergent will need to be used. This process is a little more difficult especially if the weeds have spread throughout your lawn. Post-emergent is a non-selective herbicide, unlike pre-emergent, which is selective. Non-selective means that it will kill all established plants instead of just the weed, and should be used more cautiously.

If you have any questions regarding pre-emergent or would like a treatment for your lawn, please contact us!

It’s wintertime, which means that it is time to prune a lot of your trees and shrubs.  Pruning during winter means that it will be easier to see what and where you are trimming. To make winter pruning an easier task, Simply Green has compiled a list of things to look out for in the winter season.

Pruning trees and shrubs in the dormant season can give new life to some plants. A plant that is pruned properly can thrive with new blooms, and support healthier growth in the spring.

• Prune with the natural shape of the plant. Shaving it too far down can actually do more harm than good. It will also grow into an unnatural shape in the spring.
• Prune back to a branch off of the main limb at a 45-degree angle. This will promote better growth of the branch.
• Make sure to cut out dead branches.

While a lot of plants benefit from being pruned during winter, some are better suited for spring and summer. The plants that need attention now are:

• Trees like Crape Myrtles that flower in the summer time.
• Hydrangea bushes
• Trees that produce fruit. These should be cut in the dormant season to prevent the loss of fruit.
• Barberries
• Bradford Pears
• Spruce
• Junipers

This list outlines some basic plant to pay attention to in the winter. If you have a tree or shrub not on this list you are unsure about, please contact us!

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