Edging is the mechanical cutting and removal of new growth from the edges of turf or ground covers. It is accomplished using power edgers with blade guards and hand held power string trimmers.

Horizon Landscape recommends edging of turf bi-weekly during the months of May - September and as needed during the remainder of the season.

String trimmers can be used on "soft edges," those edges of turf that run along a mulched bed. A power edger should be used on all "hard edges," those turf edges that are next to concrete, sidewalks, or curbs.

All turf should be edged, alternating between the soft edges one week and the hard edges the next. Tree wells should be edged with a string trimmer every other week. Ground cover is edged as needed.

Always wear ear, eye and hand protection while edging.

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Thatch is a dense mat of accumulated roots and stems between the soil and the visible green vegetation. Often several inches thick, thatch prevents the penetration of oxygen, fertilizers and water down into the soil where they are needed. Thatch also creates a breeding ground for fungus and insects that destroy lawns.

A Thatcher is a home landscaping tool can be used to remove the thatch buildup. This is a power rake with rotating combs that quickly break through the thatch, allowing oxygen, water and nutrients to get to the root system and allowing sunlight to penetrate to the soil. It is a violent, mechanical, hard raking that removes thatch and debris. The best time to power rake a lawn is late summer or early fall, because the combination of warm soil and cooler air will allow the turf to recover and spread. Power raking combined with fertilizer and additional seed will produce a healthier, more beautiful lawn!

Another possible solution is regular aeration of the turf. This works to prevent thatch buildup, but does little to remove a thick layer of thatch.

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Aeration is the process of mechanically removing plugs of soil (5/8" by 2") every 6-8 inches. This allows a number of beneficial things to happen with the turf:

• Releases gases from the soil, letting oxygen in.
• Increases the amount of water to the soil and plant.
• Stimulates new root growth.
• Helps control harmful thatch buildup.
• Allow fertilizers and nutrients to move faster to the root.
• Relieves soil compaction caused by traffic and equipment.
• Reduces water runoff on slopes and hills.

Next to fertilizing your turf on a regular basis, aeration is the most beneficial thing you can do to improve the health of your lawn.

Late summer and early fall is a good time to aerate your lawn. It is the optimum season for turf to recover and spread due to the warm soil and cooler air temperatures.

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Normal turfgrass growth requires a balance of 16 essential elements. A deficiency in any one of these nutrients can interfere with normal plant growth. The three most important (and most familiar) nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are the elements described by the numbers you may see on the side of a bag of fertilizer. These numbers describe the percentage of each nutrient that can be found in that particular mix. For example, 10-6-4 fertilizer contains 10% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, and 4% potassium. You can also think of these numbers as representing how many pounds of each nutrient would be present in a 100-pound bag of that fertilizer mix.

Nitrogen is responsible for enhanced shoot growth and density, plus a darker green color.
Phosphorus promotes root growth and seed production.
Potassium helps with disease resistance, heat, cold and drought tolerance by regulating the absorption and retention of water.

Treat your lawn with an organic based fertilizer, similar to a 10-6-4. It should contain iron and other micronutrients to provide a balanced healthy diet for your turf. We recommend that you fertilize your lawn 4-6 times per year, applying a total of about 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. per year.

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Pests can be a serious problem in your lawn. Common lawn pests include molds, fungi, insects or weeds and each must be treated differently. Many pests take advantage of a weak, dry, or under-fertilized lawn. Regular fertilization and proper watering techniques should prevent most problems. We recommend an IPM approach to pest management to protect your turf and the environment. Contact Horizon or your local licensed professional for proper remedial care of your lawn if you believe pests are already present.

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Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a pest-free landscape. The traditional response to pests has been to apply chemical pesticides. These methods can eliminate pests, but they are costly and potentially hazardous to people, pets and the environment. Advances in landscape technology have led to a new approach to managing pests: Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The IPM theory views the landscape holistically, rather than only focusing on annihilating all pests.

By taking into account all aspects surrounding the landscape, pests can be reduced with less reliance on pesticides. The integrated approach to controlling problems combines

• appropriate plant choice - selecting varieties of plants that are not prone to pests or disease
• good gardening practices - carefully following planting instructions for each species
• preventive measures to avoid problems
• sensible use of pesticides only when warranted by serious pest or disease attack.

At the heart of IPM is regular monitoring of the property and keeping records after each visit. Observation of a problem early on could prevent it from spreading and, in some cases, a simple pruning procedure or spot treatment may solve the problem. Customer involvement is also important, because proper watering practices and notification at the first sign of any plant abnormality are crucial to successful pest management.

All pests will not be eliminated from any garden, as some are actually beneficial because they prey on other insects. It is when pest populations increase and become a nuisance that we intervene. But using the principles of IPM we can control pests, protect our environment, and save our clients money.

When methods are used correctly, IPM is the most efficient and economical method of pest control for the lawn and landscape.

Horizon Landscape serves all of Bergen County, New Jersey and surrounding areas so please contact us with any questions you may have, even if your city isn't listed below...

Allendale Landscape Maintenance
Franklin Lakes Landscape Maintenance
Glen Rock Landscape Maintenance
Mahwah Landscape Maintenance
Ramsey Landscape Maintenance
Ridgewood Landscape Maintenance
Wyckoff Landscape Maintenance
 

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