First time home owner here, which means this is also my first yard. I really have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to caring for it. How often should I water my lawn in the summer? How long? Also, how much can I expect an AC tech to charge me for a recharge? Not sure of the size of the unit, but the house is about 1,700 sq ft if that matters. Thanks.
I normally water a couple of times a week...about an inch or so of water at a time... and the charge for AC depends on how much freon he needs to use...the freon is pretty expensive..
I suggest you follow this fertilization schedule. I do and have one of the greenest yards on the block. http://950kprc.com/gardenline-lawn.html
Another yard question. We just moved into our first house in March and we have 3 of those nasty trees (in the house we rented my neighbor called them "China Berry" trees). They basically drop crap all year - leaving those hard shells in the fall. My question is: Is it better to go buy a chainsaw and try to do it myself or is it better to let a lawn service do it? All three trees are at least a foot in circumfrence, and I'd like to get them down before fall.
You might have tallow trees. We had about a dozen in our front yard when we first moved in. My wife was adamant about removing them...so we hired someone to come and cut them down and grind the stumps. The key is getting rid of the stump completely. I would hire someone if they are a foot in circumference.
We used Arbor Care and really liked them. They may be a bit pricey but I felt they did a good job and would use them again.
depends on what the flowrate of your sprinkler is... basically...you just end up guesstimating.....I normally go with an hour per section.. works pretty well...I normally have one of the greenest yards on the block...but then again....using Chemlawn(or whatever they call themselves these days) helps alot with that.
Anyone see Nick Lachey try to plant his lawn. That was hilarious. I think we've all done that at least once., talk to someone, and then realize just how hard it would be to actually do. He was so deflated. But he got it done the right way.
Put a coffee can or the likes in the yard and test it. Don't know about the news in Houston, but the weather news in Austin provides transpiration rates; tells you how much you need to water if you're on a five day watering schedule (based on sun, temperature, wind). The rule is fewer and deeper waterings. If you water too often, your roots will stay near the surface and you'll be screwed when there's a dry spell. And mow high. It also promotes deeper roots. Don't over-fertilize. It can weaken your lawn and also require you to water it more often since it wants to grow. (Natural fertilizers are now widely available) You can often get by with less fertilizer (and still have a deep green lawn) by making sure that you have iron in the fertilizer or add it seperately. Epsom salts can also help green up a lawn, but it is also a fertilizer so use sparingly.
From years of listening to gardening shows on KTRH, I know one thing. If you have a problem, one of the following 5 things will solve it : Diazinon Malathion Dursban Fertilizer (either more, less, or a different time) Water (either more or less) Are the first 3 chemicals even legal anymore? I dunno, but one of the 5 above was the answer to every question on those gardening shows.
I believe that they are allowed to sell the Diaz and Durs that is in stock, but they cannot produce anymore. (So it's like what, going to become more poisonous? )
Im with R2K on this. I water each section for about 45 mins to an hour about twice a week. By watering deeply, but sparingly, you encourage the grass to grow deeper to reach the water, which makes it healthier.
Get a sprinkler system. It is the best thing ever created. If we are able to finally stay somewhere long enough to build another house, that will be one of the things I have done for sure. It makes having a yard so easy.
