The biggest benefit of soil testing is it provides you with your soils pH and measures the availability of soil minerals and nutrients.  Healthy soil equals healthy lawns and plants. The most important test we look for in a soil test is the pH level.

So what exactly is soil pH and what does it measure?

Soil pH is the measurement of acidity or alkalinity of your soil. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral.  A pH above 7 indicates an alkaline soil and below 7 indicates an acid soil.  Our soils tend to be on the acid side. Lawns prefer a slightly acid soil 5.8 to 6.5.

Why is this important to know?

When your soil has low pH say around 5.5 it means you have an acid soil, between 40% to 50% of fertilizer is unavailable to your lawn because the plant can’t absorb the needed nutrients/minerals.  Half of your fertilizer is going to waste and your lawn will not hold its color. That means  you will not have a thick lush green lawn when spring arrives!

So what’s next? How do I check my soils pH?

You can take soil samples and submit to your local extension service for a small fee or you can contact Simply Green Lawn Care and we will submit to a local soil laboratory for a small fee. Both options provide you with a soil analysis detailing your pH (the most important), phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium along with manganese and iron levels.  Once we have your soil analysis we will customize your lawn care program to fit your lawn requirements.  We recommend you take a soil sample every 3-4 years.

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Take advantage of the autumn air and get out in your lawn and spruce it up! In today’s post we have included some wonderful tips from the Simply Green team for you to take advantage of this time and get out and improve your lawn! If it’s a fresh mowing, fertilizing or just need to control those unwanted weeds, we have a few hints to get you moving!

1. Get the rake or blower out of the shed it’s fall! With leaves falling as the seasons change, make sure to remove all leaves from your lawn as it blocks the sunlight from reaching the grass. If you have new tall fescue seedlings best to use a leaf blower instead of a rake. A rake can pull the fescue seedlings out of the  ground.

2. Make sure to mow but remember to use the “1/3 rule”. You can mow in the cold weather as long as the grass isn’t wet or has frost.  If your fescue needs mowing and seedlings have been up for 3 weeks mow fescue at 3”-3.5” be sure your lawn mower blade is sharp. For warm season turf this is not the time to lower your mower height. Allow your warm season turf to go dormant a little taller than your normal mowing height.

3. Keep your equipment in order. Storing your lawn mower, tools, gardening equipment, etc for the winter months ahead can be a task. Make sure that you drain the mower of gas or add a gas fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil (follow the instructions on the label)  and clean all the equipment to save you time and money come spring.

4. Great time to apply dormant oil also known as horticulture oil  to your ornamental trees and shrubs. Horticulture oil suffocates or penetrates the outside cuticle of the pest.  Helps control aphids, scales and a host of other plant eating insects. Best to apply when temperatures are between 40-70 degrees F. and no forecasted  freezing temperatures for the next 3-4 days.  Do not spray on your new pansies!. Read and follow the label.

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With temperatures dropping here in the south, lawns are turning from lush green to winter brown. With the change in temperature comes winter maintenance. Any pop of color that is growing around your lawn this season is a dreaded winter weed. Unfortunately, weeds seem to thrive in the winter weather and then die when the temperatures get warm again. In today’s post, we have put together a list of weeds to keep an eye out for this season:

• Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
• Poa annua (Poaceae)
• Wild Onions (Allium)
• Chickweed (Stellaria media)
• Deadnettle and Henbit
• Annual Bluegrass
• Prickly Lettuce
• Horseweed
• Cheatgrass

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With October in full swing and the Georgia fall weather making us unsure about the season, it’s the best time to make sure that your landscape is prepared and planned for the cold months ahead. We have put together a few key planning points to check off your to-do list:

Winterize your roses: When cold weather heads your way, you need to have your roses protected! Mound the roses with mulch and it will help them survive through winter.

Mulch Your Leaves: Many believe that fallen leaves will insulate your lawn during the winter, but this could actually do more harm than good! Leaves will block vital sunlight and thin your grass making it harder to re-grow in spring. Our suggestion, remove leaves from your lawn and your planting beds weekly.

Start Planting!  Late fall is the perfect time to start planting spring- blooming bulbs (daffodil, crocus, hyacinth, tulip, etc.). With soil still warm from summer, it’s perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. Planting in the fall will allow strong roots to develop and allow your plants to become established before our hot summer arrives.

Finished all the hard work and want a little fun? Get crafty and carve a pumpkin! When you are finished, don’t throw everything away, plant the seeds and have your own garden of pumpkins for next season!

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Today on the blog, Simply Green is talking to you about one of our special service spotlights:  Fescue Aeration & Seeding. With the hot Georgia summer weather thinning out most Fescue lawns in Atlanta, it’s time to start getting your lawn in shape this fall. Fall is the best time for core aeration and over-seeding your Fescue lawn. Getting starting ahead of the season will help with new growth and a better and stronger looking lawn. Start thinking about your 2014 lawn by fall over-seeding NOW! By starting your Fescue aeration and seeding now, it will allow oxygen to get to the roots, reduce soil compaction, improve overall fescue turf density and help your lawn recover from the hot summer.

Contact us early to schedule your Core Aeration and Fescue Over-Seeding by calling 770-923-0387, or Click here to request a FREE estimate. Also, be sure to follow along on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter!

Today on the blog, Simply Green is talking to you about one of our special service spotlights: Tree and Scrub Care. Landscape plants, unlike lawns, mature slowly often over the course of many years.  Damage or malnutrition can sometimes take a growing season or more to correct. For this reason it is best to treat landscape plants proactively to ensure that they will grow to their full potential.

Simply Green Lawn Care Plus provides an annual tree and shrub care plan to help your landscape plants thrive at your home. See below:

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Are you ready to join the conversation? We want you to join us in discussing the green industry, learning about new plants, bugs and treatments and being a part of our online community! Join today:

Facebook: “Like” Us?

Twitter: Follow-us?

Google+: Join the Conversation!

Yelp: We would love to hear from you! Tell us how your experience was with Simply Green.

I have been using Simply Green since it has been under new ownership. Several of my neighbors are using them also. Very honest in suggesting what my lawn needs and does not need. The technician that services my lawn is very informative and polite.  I do recommend this company.

– Addy

Blog: Make sure to read the Simply Green Blog!

Do you wish you knew more about your landscape? Knew which grass was which and how to take care of each? We understand the feeling! We see lawns everyday with different grasses and each need a different amount of care. We have put together a list of a few different types of turfs and how to take care of each! See below:

• Bermuda (Warm Season Turf)
  • As a rule, mow at .5 “- 2.0”
  • Start low in late April after last frost date and gradually raise the height as the summer progresses.
  • By late September to early October, maintain a mowing height of 1.5”-2.0” to help insulate your warm season lawn from the cold weather.
• Centipede
  • As a rule, mow at 1.25”-1.5”
  • Start low in late April after last frost date and gradually raise the height as the summer progresses.
  • By late September to early October, maintain a mowing height of 1.5” to help insulate your warm season lawn from the cold weather.
• Fescue (Cool Season Turf)
  • As a rule, mow at 3.0” to 3.5”
  • During cool weather (spring-fall- winter) mow at 3.” During the hot summer months, maintain 3.5.”
• Zoysia (Warm Season Turf)
  • As a rule, mow at 1.5” to 2.5” depending on type of Zoysia
  • Start low in late April after last frost date and gradually raise the height as the summer progresses.
  • By late September to early October, maintain a mowing height of 1.5”-2.5” to help insulate your warm season lawn from the cold weather.

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The answer is yes! When you see bagworms, they are usually in their caterpillar stage hanging from a tree or shrub in a little bag they’ve spun together out of plant detritus – giving them the name “bagworms”. The caterpillars will only leave the bag to devour the plants leaves leaving the plant barren. Bagworms can be very damaging to trees and shrubs and can severely defoliate a small tree or shrub – they can cause severe damage to an evergreen tree . The most common plants that bagworms feed on are arborvitae, eastern red cedars, hemlocks and junipers.

If you catch them early and the bag worms are reachable, you can remove by hand. Otherwise the best way to control these pests is to spray the foliage with a approved insecticide after eggs have hatched. If your into bugs take time to watch these guys work. It’s pretty neat to see how they make their own home and come out to eat your favorite plant. It can take a couple of treatments to achieve 100% control. If you have bags, we have a solution! Give us a call if we can be of service!

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Guess what? It’s time to get ready for the fall season! Breathe new life into your lawn’s roots with Core Aeration and the best time is now! We have put together a few help pointers on why, how and when you need to get started on kick-starting your lawncare maintenance. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to connect with us!

Why does my lawn need core aeration?

• Compacted Georgia clay soils impede the movement of air, water and nutrients to the grass roots.
• Roots require oxygen to grow and to absorb nutrients and water.
• When compacted, soil contributes to the accumulation of thatch because restricted oxygen levels impair the activity of earthworms and other thatch-decomposing organisms.
• Thatch accumulates faster on compacted soils and heavy clay soils than on well aerified soils.
• When thatch depth exceeds 1/2” it becomes a problem, reducing water movement and encouraging shallow, weak root systems. Thick thatch also can become a home for insects and disease.
• Many people complain about moss growing in their lawns in Atlanta. Lawns that drain poorly due to soil compaction are displaying a “Moss Welcome” sign.

How core aeration strengthens your lawn:

How does core aeration work?

• Core aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores out of the lawn. Known as a core aerator, the machine extracts 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on your lawn. Aeration holes are typically 1-3 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart.
• Core aeration is a recommended yearly lawn care practice to control thatch buildup, especially on compacted, heavily used turf.How will my lawn benefit from core aeration?

• Compacted soil will be loosened, increasing the availability of water and nutrients.
• Oxygen levels in the soil will be enhanced, stimulating root growth and enhancing the activity of thatch-decomposing organisms.
• Your lawn’s drought tolerance and overall health will be improved.
• Your turf will produce new shoots and roots that “fill up” the holes from core aeration, increasing its density.

When is the best time to core aerate?

• The best time to aerate your warm-season lawn (Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine) is spring and early summer.
• The best time to aerate your Tall Fescue lawn is in the fall, in conjunction with fall reseeding.

It’s never too soon (or too late) to start improving the health and appearance of your lawn. At Simply Green Lawn Care Plus, we professionally core aerate your lawn in metro Atlanta using the most advanced equipment and best-qualified personnel.
Click here to request a FREE estimate. Also, be sure to follow along on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter!