Lawn Care - Why it Matters

Many people, upon hearing that there are actually companies whose business revolves around lawn care entirely get astonished. The astonishment is not to do with the lawn care service provider companies as such, but rather with the idea that people are actually willing to spend large sums of money that are large enough to keep a company in business on the care of their lawns. It seems strange, and it is quite easy to empathize with their wonderment; because truth be told, lawn care seems like the easiest thing to do, and that someone can spent thousands of dollar on it per a years seems like yet another case of 'misdirected resources.'

In actual fact though, lawn care often turns out to be one of the most involving undertakings. When one sees a well manicured lawn, it is easy to appreciate that some effort has gone into its maintenance, but what is hard to figure out is just HOW MUCH effort goes into that. In actual fact, keeping a one acre lawn in prime condition for a whole year might take as much as an investment of five hundred hours - and this is very conservative - meaning that wage bill, assuming the minimum wage of ten bucks per hour, would work out to like four thousand such bucks. So the question follows as to what, really, justifies this investment, and the subsequent inputs of time it calls for. Put another way, the question is as to why lawn care matters: why not just let the lawns be.

The answer to the question as to why lawn care matters is because 'how well care for' a home's (or business center's) lawns are cared for is usually something that has great implications on the image of that home or business center. Here, 'business center' is taken in its widest sense, to mean any setting that is not domestic, since all non-domestic settings are always meant for some business (though, of course, not always profit-oriented business). A church is in the business of offering spiritual services, while a school is in the business of offering educational services.

The implication is this: a well cared for lawn is subconsciously seen as a reflection of a well managed home/business center, with an unkempt lawn being seen as a reflection of a poorly managed home/business center. It doesn't matter what the (actual) reality is: a person's perception is their reality. A home with a well kept lawn could be a very poorly managed, but a person seeing it would view it as well managed. Worth noting is that it would be very hard to change that perception even when, upon entering the home (or business center, as may be the case), they come to see just how bad things are inside.

It is the same reason that makes us take proper care of our personal grooming then, that would motivate us to take proper care of our lawns. We know that these are things that speak loudest about us. We know that other people will make conclusions about us and our businesses, not mainly based on what we tell them, but rather based on what they see with their own eyes, through things like these. They are the small things that matter a lot. If you are a business organization, and a visiting client notices that your lawn is unkempt, it may be reason enough for denying you business. It is not likely, of course, that they will quote the poor state of the lawn as the reason for their withholding the business - but it will definitely be one of their subconscious motivations for doing so. It is with insights like these, then, that people find themselves motivated to invest their time and monetary resources in lawn care.

If you are looking for tampa tree and shrub service providers to take care of your Tampa lawn, contact us today. Receive free quotes for our others service viz. tampa pest control as well.

Kei Apple

Latin Name: Dovyalis caffra

Other Names: Umkokola, amaqokolo, umkola

Type: Shrub/Small tree

Native to: Africa

Fruit:

Kei apple plants are dioecious and you will usually need to have both male and female shrubs. Sometimes fruit may be produced without pollination (parthenogenesis). The fruits are yellow, 1-1.5" and round, and are abundantly produced on the branches.

Size: The Kei apple grows to 30' tall.

Hardiness: Zones 9-11

Propagation: Seeds, hormone-treated hardwood cuttings

Uses:

The fruit is a great source of Vitamin C. It is often too tart to eat fresh , though some eat it with sugar. It is used to make jellies and desserts.

Care should be taken when planting a kei apple - it has allelopathic effects on other plants.

Lawn Care Broken Down Into Two Important Categories

A homeowner has many things that he or she must deal with. Perhaps one of biggest sources of enjoyment or the thing you dread the most, depending on the type of person you are, is Lawn Care. Most people love the look of a well-manicured lawn, however, not everyone enjoys the work it takes to have the pristine landscaping. Whatever the case, whether you are one of those people who enjoy this chore, it is a job that you will need to be done.

You can break Lawn Care down into two separate functions. The first is the mowing aspect of caring for your lawn and the second part is the detail work. The detail work normally involves weed elimination, trimming trees and bushes, edging the lawn and gardening. While this may seem like a lot less work than walking behind push lawn mowers on a hot sunny day, this detailed work can be quite labor intensive. While the detail work is important, what you will want to address first is the actual cutting of the grass.

A lawn mower comes in many shapes and sizes, much like the lawns they are constructed to cut. That is why you need to figure in two specific issues when choosing the right mower for your needs. The first is knowing your lawn. A standard push mower is excellent for small, flat lawns. If you have a larger lawn or one that has significant undulations, you might want to consider a self-propelled walk behind mower. These mowers allow you to steer the mower instead of having to actually push the mower along. Of course, if your lawn is really big, or if you have any issues with physical exertion, then you might want to consider a riding mower.

The other issue in Lawn Care as it relates to mowers is budget. Mowers of good quality, even the cheaper one can often represent a considerable investment. You want to ensure that the money you spend is spent well. Take the time to establish how much you can afford to spend on a mower. This will give you a very good idea of what type of mower is right for you.

A good mower will typically last you a long time and make Lawn Care a lot easier. Of course, you will need to take care of the mower in order to get maximum usage out of it. By considering your needs and your budget constraints, you can have the right mower for your lawns needs that will last you for many years to come.

Greg S. Wallace writes about lawn care, gardening, lawn mowers, fertilizer and other topics at http://www.squidoo.com/maintain-your-lawn

Harvesting Fruit

The best part about growing fruit trees and shrubs is, of course, harvesting the fruit! Learn when you can generally expect to harvest the different types of fruits with this handy time line. The exact times will vary depending on the variety you choose and your climate.

Apples: July-early November

Apricots: May-June for most varieties

Avocados: Guatemalan varieties: summer-autumn. Mexican varieties: autumn-spring in California, summer-winter in Florida

Bananas: Late summer-fall in mild climates

Blueberries: 60-80 days after blooming

Cherries: May-July

Citrus: Year round in mild climates

Currants: Late spring-summer

Figs: First crop June & July; second crop in August except in California, where it is in September

Gooseberries: Late spring-summer

Guavas: Autumn in California; June-October in Florida

Loquats: February-May in Florida; March-June in California

Mangoes: May-September in Florida; autumn-winter in California

Nectarines: June-September (as early as April in milder climates)

Olives: Fall in mild climates

Papayas: In California, approximately 8 months after flowering; 3-4 months after flowering in Florida

Peaches: June-September (as early as April in milder climates)

Pears: July-late October

Persimmons: Late autumn-winter

Plums: June-August

Pomegranates: Whenever fully colored

Raspberries: Early summer; everbearers can produce into autumn

Quince:Autumn

Sources:
Sunset Western Garden Book
Sunset's How to Grow Fruits, Nuts, and Berries

Texas State Flower - Texas Bluebonnet

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Tips for Hiring a Lawn Care Service

Hiring a lawn care service to help ensure your lawn is lush and green all year round is a great feeling, however, it is a task that should not be taken lightly. Too many people simply make a few phone calls to various lawn care companies in their area and then go with the one that is the cheapest. This can end up costing you in the long run.

Here are some tips that will help you choose a great lawn care service:

• Ask Around: Is there anything better than word of mouth? Ask friends and family who they use and recommend for lawn care and then make some phone calls from there. You can even stop by that house with the lawn that you admire so much and knock on their door then inquire who they use for their lawn care company.

• Check Licensing: Make sure that any lawn service company you consider is fully licensed and insured. Sure, you can save some money by hiring one that isn't, but then you are not covered if something goes wrong while the lawn care company is on your property.

• Look at Portfolios: Any quality lawn company will have a portfolio of their best work for you to look at. When you are interviewing various companies, be sure to ask to see their portfolios. If they say they don't have one, then you should continue on with your search as they are either very new to the industry or very bad at what they do.

• Get References: While you are in the process of the interview with a lawn care company you can always ask them to furnish you with a list of references. Again, if they are worth a darn, they will have the list ready and waiting for you. If they say that they can't provide you with such a list, then you need to end the interview and move on.

• Get it in Writing: Make sure that you are clear on what the lawn service company will be doing for you. Once you are sure, be certain you get a signed service contract so that you have in writing exactly what it is that they will be doing for you for the price they quoted you.

• Check out Other Work: Another useful way to help you determine which lawn care service to go with is to ask them for a list of their most recent projects both large and small. This will be different from their portfolio and their reference list and they may not have this ready, but should be able to give it to you before the interview is over. Once you have it, take some time and drive by the places on the list. Then you can see for yourself how good or bad of a job they actually do.

When you take the time to research lawn care companies just a bit you are taking the time to ensure your law will get the best care possible. While there are many lawn care services that you can go out and get, they will not all be one and the same and it pays to put in a little effort to guarantee a lush lawn everyday of the year.

Jason Kay recommends TheLawnCareGuys for your Biloxi lawn care needs.

Tree and Shrub Catalogs

Why should you order from a catalog instead of just heading over to your local nursery? Selection. Many nurseries are only able to stock a certain number of varieties of trees and shrubs due to the cost of retail space. Tree and shrub catalogs present a whole new world of choices. It's also convenient if you want to just shop from home.

These listings will take you directly to the page where you can request a catalog. These days, some companies have chosen to only have digital catalogs, which will be indicated next to their name. Check out recommendations for the best catalogs in the forum.

Adams County Nursery Online offers trees and supplies that are useful for both the home gardener and commercial orchardist. They have a wide selection of fruit tree varieties, including some that are not as easy to find. When I'm ready to order my Flavor Grenade pluot tree, this is where I will go.

Fall Lawn Care and Maintenance For a Great Looking Lawn Next Year

Fall is an important season for Lawn care maintenance and is as important in many respects as is spring. There are a number of things that should be done in the fall, all to assist your lawn grasses in preparing for the winter. Fall is probably also the one season where your lawn will look it's best! It is one of the only times of the year where growing conditions for almost any lawn type (and particularly the Cool Season Grasses) are ideal, the weather is cooling off some so the grass is not as subject to drought conditions as it is during the summer, you'll typically get more rainfall and the cool evenings relieve the grass of heat related stress. In order to take advantage of these great conditions and to insure that your lawn is ready for the cold winter there are a number of steps that you should take. Below is a fall maintenance program to help you in getting the best possible lawn possible.

Aerate and Dethatch

For Cool season grasses, Aerating and dethatching in the fall is desirable. Both of these activities are damaging and stressful (although necessary and ultimately beneficial) and should only be done during periods of active growth. For the cool season grasses Fall is the ideal time to aerate and dethatch. For the Warm season grasses this is best done during late Spring or early Summer.

If you have a lawn that has heavy traffic, the soil in it is likely to be heavily compressed. This limits root development and penetration and also reduces oxygen levels in the soil. Core aeration will pull plugs of soil from the ground, opening up the soil and allowing it to expand into the holes left behind. You can also take advantage of the plugs pulled from the soil to analyze how much thatch has built up in your lawn. Examine one of the cores or plugs that is complete, you should have a pretty good cutaway view and can see how much thatch has built up. If the thatch is over ½" of thickness then you should dethatch as well.

Fertilize

Fertilization in the Fall is as important, if not more so then fertilization in the Spring. Typical fall fertilizing programs emphasize Potassium (The third key element in a fertilizer) and nitrogen to some extent with a minimal amount of phosphorous. A typical fall fertilizer for cool season grasses may be a 22-3-14. This is 22% Nitrogen, 3% Phosphorous and 14% Potassium. The nitrogen and potassium will help the lawn grasses grow a more extensive root system as well as develop new stems and shoots. Another key benefit of fertilizing in the fall is that of building up a store of carbohydrates, which will help the lawn grass make it through the winter

Fall feeding is beneficial to both grass types, Cools season as well as warm season. Cool season grasses can be fed twice in the fall, once in early September and again in mid to late October. Warm Season grasses should be fed early in the fall, early September being a good time for this. One of the benefits of feeding during this time frame is that although a warm weather grass is entering a period of slow leaf growth, it can dedicate it's resources (and fertilizer) to growing it's root system and storing carbohydrates. Please refer to the section on Fertilization for additional information.

Clean Up

Another important aspect of fall maintenance is cleaning up the leaves that are falling off the trees. Leaving the leaves on your lawn for extended periods of time rob it of the benefit of Sun, air and water, All essential elements to a healthy turf grass and a great looking lawn. It's best to remove leaves completely, although for small quantities mowing it in with a mulching blade should be ok.

Mowing

Continue to mow your lawn until it enters dormancy and the grass stops actively growing. No height adjustments are necessary (there is some controversy as to whether you should mow lower in preparation for winter). If you are compelled to mow lower, make it incrementally lower, certainly no lower then 20% of the height you normally mow to.

Other Fall Lawn Activities

Since fall is an active growing season it is also an ideal time to reseed a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn. There are two types of overseeding that you might do during the fall. The first is to overseed an existing cool season grass with seed of the same grass type to fill in bald or thin spots. The second is to overseed a warm season lawn with a cool season grass to give it a green look over the winter. Rye Grasses are often used when overseeding the lawns. Both perennial and annual grasses are used for overseeding warm season grasses. Annual rye is preferable since it won't compete with the warm season grass once winter is over. A perennial rye will continue to grow and compete with the warm weather grass.

Whether establishing a new lawn or overseeding an existing lawn it is important to properly prepare the lawn bed so that you have the highest rate of germination with your seed.

Be sure to read the entire article as well as other lawn related information and advice at The Lawn Place

http://TheLawnPlace.com

Jujube

Latin Name: Ziziphus jujuba

Other Names: Chinese Date

Type: Tree

Native to: China

Fruit: The red drupes are about 1-2.5" long, depending on the cultivar chosen. Jujube can have a taste similar to apples or dates, depending on how ripe they are.

Size: The jujube tree can reach 40' tall.

Hardiness: Zones 5-10. The jujube has a surprising tolerance to some cold.

Propagation: Grafting, budding, seeds

Uses: Jujubes can be eaten fresh, dried, or used as an ingredient in desserts.

Starting a Lawn Care Business During a Recession

At a time when jobs are in short supply, starting a lawn care business may seem like an alternative to those who have been laid off or who cannot find work with reasonable compensation.

This article will offer advice to those thinking of starting a lawn care business during an economic slowdown and discuss the statement that lawn care is a recession proof industry.

To say that the lawn care industry is recession proof is partially true because households using the services of lawn care professionals usually have above average, disposable incomes and are therefore not hit so hard during tough economic times.

However the 'middle class' market still makes up a sizable component of the overall market for lawn care services and the middle class is known to cut spending considerably during recessions.

It is true that lawns still have to be mowed no matter how bad the economy gets. However it is still common to see some households cutting back on unessential expenses like lawn care and possibly taking care of it themselves or having lawn care contractors mow their lawns less frequently. The lawn care market is so big though that even during tough economic times there is still a solid base of customers who would never dream of mowing their own lawns.

For those having trouble finding work during a recession a lawn care business is a great way to earn an income to get by. If you start your business during or near the end of a recession you will be well position to expand when the economy starts to recover.

Potential businessmen are hesitant to invest money into a new venture during a recession and may have trouble getting capital together. However in the lawn care business start up costs for a small operation are low. A Lawn care business therefore represents an opportunity with less financial risk involved compared to other small businesses.

Try to evaluate economic conditions within the area that you intend to target your clients as opposed to nationally. Some areas feel a recession harder than others. It is a fact that households in some wealthier neighborhoods won't make any changes to their spending habits during a recession and these are the kinds of areas that you want to target.

The latest economic crisis has seen no relief in oil prices and anyone wanting to enter the lawn care business should have a plan in place to be as efficient as possible with fuel consumption (for both equipment and vehicle requirements).

So far, during the current 2008 downturn lawn care has been surprisingly resilient to the reduction in overall consumer spending. If you proceed carefully and cautiously and don't over invest then a lawn care business is one of the few businesses that you can consider starting during an economic downturn or recession.

Steve Sutherland has experience running a variety of small businesses. Passionate about helping others get started in business he writes on several business related topics including the lawn care industry. For more advice and articles about how you can start and maintain a profitable lawn care business visit http://www.StartaLawnMowingBusiness.com

Steve also runs http://www.Logo-Reviews.com where you can compare some of the top online logo design firms.

Using Lawn Care Sand Correctly

Feeding your lawn with quality nutrients is important. In lawn care, sand can help toad to the health of your grass as well as add to the overall look of it. Consider if your lawn needs this type of back up plan.

Feeding The Lawn

During the spring, your lawn needs to be feed to prepare it for the long summer. Doing so helps to prevent the weeds that grow here and it helps to improve the disease risks that your grass faces. When your lawn is cared for, it also looks green. To accomplish this, you do need to consider using a fertilizer. You want the NPK to be balanced. This stands for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. A good ratio according to professionals is 11 to 4 to 8.

Before adding fertilizer, be sure the ground has been aerated to add air to the ground. Remove anything that should not be there. Cover any bare sections of soil with a lawn care sand application. Use a spreader to spread the fertilizer evenly. You should cover your lawn correctly with the fertilizer, minimizing overlapping. The best time to apply a fertilizer to the lawn is right after it has rained well.

Throughout The Year

You do need to consider your lawn all year long. In the winter, remove weeds. In the fall, be sure to remove leaves. If the soil is too thin, such as being mushy when walked on, consider adding to it. In this situation, lawn care sand should be applied to the area to fill in the layers better. Add a soil blend on top of this so that you will remove any problem areas.

Caring Long Term

It is necessary to care for your long in the long term. You should never cut your lawn too low, which should not be more than a third of the length of the blade. You should keep weeds out of your yard. To do this, consider using chemical based products like herbicides but use them according to directions provided. You should remove any moss build up by using a rake to remove or use aeration. Follow your local codes for lawn watering. You can use other methods such as a wetting substance to help you as well. Do not over cut your lawn or over fertilize it.

When doing these things correctly, you will find that you can maintain a healthy lawn. Use lawn care sand and other products to help you with these things.

Looking for more information about lawn care sand? Andrew Caxton contributes adding content to http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . Keep reading about plant new grass and gardens at his web.

Durian

Latin Name: Durio zibethinus

Other Names:Civet fruit

Type: Tree

Native to: Malaysia and Borneo

Fruit: The oval, spiny fruits are 6-12" long and can weigh up to 18 pounds. The fruit is known as the "king of fruits" in Asia. People usually either love it for its nutty, caramel flavor, or hate it due to its intensely unpleasant smell. Some businesses even ban the consumption of the fruit indoors.

Size: 90-130' tall

Hardiness: The durian is quite tropical and will be killed if the temperatures drop below 40F.

Propagation: Grafting and seeds

Uses: The durian is mostly eaten fresh. It is also used in various desserts.

Sapodilla

Latin Name: Manilkara zapota

Type: Tree

Native to: Yucatan, Guatemala, and Belize

Fruit: The sapodilla is 2-4", has brown skin, and can be round or oval, depending on variety. The flesh inside can be varying shades of brown. It is said to taste like a mix of brown sugar and root beer.

Size: The sapodilla tree grows 60-100' tall.

Hardiness: Zone 10b-11

Propagation: Seeds, grafting

Uses: The sapodilla is eaten fresh. It also contains chicle, a latex that used to be used in chewing gum.

Dealing With Lawn Care Problems

Trying to prevent lawn care problems certainly helps, but it is

impossible to avoid all potential problems. There are rather

simple ways to control and fix the problems though.

Brown Patch is a very common lawn care problem, occurring mostly

in Bermuda grass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Bent grass, and St.

Augustine grass. You will notice small brown spots at first,

then it will spread out from there. Dollar spots are a very

similar potential problem.

Another important lawn care problem is rust. The name comes from

the color of the grass leaf blades. It tends to come about in

areas where morning dew, shade, high soil compaction, and low

fertility are present. To check for rust, you should try to rub

the color off with a white paper towel. If it does not rub off,

it is usually rust.

Slime mold and powdery mildew are similar two other problems that

your lawn may have. They are similar to each other since they

both cover grass with a powdery substance that looks similar to

frost. The mold feeds on decaying organic matter. You need to

prevent it from getting too thick, because it will eventually

restrict the light that gets to the grass, causing it to turn

yellow and die.

If you understand the problems that may arise in your yard, you

will be able to prevent them as much as possible and treat the

ones that do arise more quickly. Research, knowledge, and action

will help you to have a healthy lawn.

Using Lawn Care Products

You can help to maintain the health and strength of your lawn by

utilizing a variety of lawn care products offered. These

products can help your lawn, no matter what it needs. Products

designed for every occasion, problem, and season. Many of these

lawn care products add important nutrients to create a healthy

lawn. Products can be applied to the lawn using a large piece of

spreading equipment, or even by using a smaller handheld spreader

There are four products for each season that are able to feed a

lawn for 6 months without causing any common problems, such as

scorching or fertilizer burns. For this to work, however, you

need to pay careful attention to applying the product correctly.

Other types of product offered include weed killer.

The weed killer is slowly released into the soil to extend the effectiveness of the product.

Your lawn's specific requirements

will dictate which type of product you will need. The amount of

the product that should be applied will vary based on your

specific lawn's needs. Read the directions very carefully to

make sure that you apply the products in the right quantities.

After applying most dry material some type of lawn irrigation system. Everything from a watering hose to an automated sprinkler system.

You can use a drop spreader, a wheeled spreader that helps to

evenly apply the products on the lawn. The spreader is suitable

for smaller gardens, and is fully adjustable.

Watering the landscape is and major part of success in the landscape and a proper functioning lawn irrigation system plays the same importance to grass. Learn the tips for proper lawn watering at http://www.plant-care.com/lawn-irrigation.html