Home Removal Services Blog

You have finally made the big move out of an apartment in the city to a home in the suburbs. You love your new home with your own space outside. The trees and flowers are growing nicely, but there is one problem, management has not cut the grass in weeks. You suddenly realize, you are management and it is time to get a lawn mower.

When you get to the hardware store you realize that there may be more to buying the right lawn mower than you expected. There are several mowers available.

If you have a small lawn, you may find that a push mower that has no power other than what you supply does great. These lawn mowers have the advantage of actually cutting the lawn with a scissor action and help to avoid the brown tips at the ends of the blades of grass. One disadvantage is that mowing must be done regularly as these mowers do not do well in tall grass.

You move on to look at the gasoline mowers. They require somewhat less energy to push through the grass and do a good job at cutting grass. They do require the strength to pull a rope for starting which can be a problem for some people. Most find it pretty easy to start these machines.

These gasoline mowers come in a variety of widths between eighteen and twenty-two inches. The narrower mowers are lighter in weight and easier to push, but the larger mowers mean fewer passes across the lawn to complete the task.

To make the job even less work, you can choose a self-propelled mower. These mowers use energy from the gasoline motor to power the wheels. All you have to do is walk behind and steer the mower.

Some subdivisions have rules regarding the use of gasoline mowers and due to the noise level that they produce require residents to choose electric mowers. Electric mowers are lighter in weight and much quieter to operate than gasoline mowers. In addition, the operator does not have to use a pull rope to start the mower. Once it is plugged in, just turn on the switch and the mower is working. The major disadvantage is that they have to have a long extension cord to operate. If you are using an electric mower, be sure that you do not mow over the cord.

For very large lawns you may need a riding lawn mower. These mowers cut up to fifty inches with one pass. Lawns mowed with riding mowers are very smooth in appearance that is not possible with other lawn mowers. You will find optional equipment for these mowers such as small trailers that can be used for transportation of landscaping materials instead of having to use a wheelbarrow. Riding mowers are the most expensive of the mowers.

As a homeowner in the suburbs, you are now management and responsible for your own lawn care. That includes mowing the grass. While some homeowners feel that mowing is a chore, others find that maintaining a beautiful lawn is a source of pride. Not only do they enjoy mowing the lawn, but also fertilizing and watering become a part of the hobby.

Selecting Stock Plants – September is a good time to begin making cuttings for starting next year’s plants. Lantana cuttings should be made from seasoned wood before any lush growth occurs after the fall rains. If the cutting wood is soft, the cuttings will rot or blast instead of developing roots. The colorful Jacob’s coat (Alternanthera) can be kept as cuttings over winter as can other types of herbaceous plants such as hibiscus, geraniums, coleus, ice plant, sultana and wandering Jew. By September, these plants are conditioned properly for taking of cuttings.

Roses- The cool nights of September will stimulate new growth for a lush crop of bloom during early October. This means the last application of fertilizer should be made this month. Light liquid feedings will be very beneficial, or you may use your own pet brand of commercial fertilizer or rose food. Cottonseed meal is a wonderful food and should be used at the rate of one-half teacupful per plant and worked in lightly around each plant. Heavy watering should follow so that the rose plant may absorb the food. Throughout our section, the quality of fall roses often surpasses that of spring blooms, even though they are usually fewer in number. In watering, keep the water off the foliage and do not water after mid-afternoon in order that the plants can go into the night with surfaces dry. The usual disease and insect pests are prevalent during this fall season, so be on constant guard to protect these plants.

Fall Lawns – Seed, feed and weed – these are the lawn problems during September. There is still time to seed bare spots in a lawn and get a cover before killing frost. The final feeding of the season should be applied by mid-September and usually a shot of potash will help to harden off the grass for winter. By light feeding is meant about four pounds of a balanced fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. For this last feeding, use a balanced fertilizer rather than straight nitrogen. This will keep a good color and a healthy turf without over stimulation of vegetative growth and will insure hardening off of the grass to withstand winter conditions. For those who want a winter lawn, this is the last call for planting Italian rye to give that lush green sparkle to the lawn during the winter. Sow seed as suggested last month, and follow with careful care and grooming. A neglected winter lawn can ruin the permanent grass and become an unsightly mess.

By the end of summer many lawns have become infested with weeds and foreign grasses which have persisted in spite of mowing. In my lawn, i put kimberly queen fern but still infested with weeds. These lawn enemies will set seed in a short time and a major infestation may result the next year. The new weed killers will get most of these pests, and there are special selective killers for some of the more difficult kinds such as crabgrass, dandelions and plantains. These chemical controls work better during the warm part of the day, but anytime is a good time for killing weeds just like caring for kimberly queen fern.

If there is serious infestation, large scale spraying will bring them under control. The beautiful feature of the liquid killers is the ability to “spot” kill and most of them do no harm to the permanent grasses. Occasionally, weeds will escape detection in other parts of the garden in out-of-the-way places and these can infest an entire garden, so be on the lookout for them.