TheseKnowing when to apply fertilizer and/or weed killer to your lawn can be a bit intimidating, but we have compiled some tips and important information to help you get on the appropriate schedule to keep your lawn lush, green, and healthy. A general rule of thumb is to apply fertilizer and week killer in the early spring and the late fall. We will go over some key details to help you identify whether your lawn is an exception to this rule. 

Types of Fertilizer: When it comes to fertilizer, they are not all made the same. There are tons of different lawn fertilizer products on the market. Most of them generally come with the most popular essential nutrients required to maintain a healthy lawn. These nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and iron. Fertilizers usually display an N-P-K rating on the packaging which identifies the percentage or amount of each nutrient present in the mixture. 

There is more to it than nutrients! There are also slow release fertilizers and fast release fertilizers. The slow release fertilizers will not yield immediate results, but tend to be the safest when it comes to avoiding burning your lawn. The fast release fertilizers will give you a quick green turnaround but due to the high amounts of specific nutrients, they have a higher chance of burning your lawn. Depending on what nutrients your lawn is lacking, will help you determine which one of these fertilizers will suit you best. 

Understanding Lawn Nutrition: The most common nutrient deficiencies in grass around the U.S. are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Hence the previously mentioned N-P-K rating. Lawns that are low in nitrogen will typically have an overgrowth of weeds (usually clovers), a yellow to yellow-green color, and stunted growth. This discoloration is usually patchy as you can see in the picture below. Don't be fooled into only treating the spots. You will want to treat the entire lawn for the nitrogen deficiency. 

A lawn with a phosphorous deficiency will will not necessarily show any stunted growth but you may notice a purplish or reddish discoloration as you can see in the photo. 

A lawn with a potassium deficiency will have an overgrowth of weeds and a yellowish color. 

If you don't feel confident in identifying the deficiency yourself, you can send your soil off to a lab to be tested for a small fee to ensure you purchase and apply the appropriate fertilizer for your lawn. 

Weed Killers: Just like fertilizers, not all weed killers are made the same. There are pre-growth weed killers that are to be applied before you see any weeds. They stop the growth of weeds before they break through the soil. Then there are post-growth weed killers that are applied after you have spotted the weeds. You can get a dual purpose weed killer and fertilizer; however, these typically run a higher risk in burning your lawn. See the photo what what over fertilizing and over use of weed killers looks like. 

Let's Wrap Things Up! So now that you have a better understanding of what your lawn needs and when to apply fertilizer and weed killer, it's important to get on a seasonal schedule for the best possible results. You should aim to fertilize your lawn every Spring and every Fall. If you still feel overwhelmed or you simply just don't have the time, contact us at Neighbor's Lawn Care today and we will get your lawn squared away. 

Roses are some of the most beautiful bushes you can have on your flower beds! They are also some of the most high maintenance plants you will come across. All that beauty comes at a cost (in time and money...and blood!). One of the biggest questions people have about their rose bushes is when to prune them. You can find calendars all over the internet with a quick search; however, you will be left with a whole lot of conflicting answers. So let us break it down for you in terms that just make sense!

Needed Equipment
If you have ever been "bitten" by the thorns of a rose bush, you can understand the need for some heavy protection. Here is a list of items you will need to prune your rose bushes. 

• Bypass shears (not anvil). Bypass shears give you a clean cut allowing for healthy growth of new buds, whereas anvil shears squeeze the canes and can damage them preventing any new growth and killing whole canes on your bush. 
• Gauntlet style gardening gloves. We aren't talking the cloth fabric stuff your grandma uses to plant her petunias. You need something with some strong leather to keep those thorns from getting to you. Gauntlet style is recommending to cover more of your arm especially for larger bushes. 
• Long-sleeve heavy weight shirt to protect your arms from clippings that may contain thorns. 
• Thick pants that go to or past the ankle. 
  
• You may also want some bug spray and sunblock!

When to Prune
So the biggest question is: "When to prune your bushes?" So let's answer that for you!

If you live in a colder climate, you will want to start pruning your bushes immediately following the final frost. I know! I know! What the heck does that mean for people who have unpredictable weather patterns? Well, that means you let the roses tell you! It's not a cryptic message I promise. 

You ever notice when the bushes start sprouting leaves in early spring? Some even start immediately budding. This is when you want to prune your rose bushes. Follow our steps below and you cannot fail!

How to Prune
Now that you have the tools and you know when to start pruning your bushes, the last thing is to know how to prune your rose bushes. Just as there are a million ways to skin a cat (not at anyone actually skins cats...we hope), there are about a million ways to prune your roses; however, this method is tried and true and simple! 

1. Remove all remaining leaves. Last seasons leaves could be diseased so lets get rid of them. 
2. Remove all dead wood. If it's brown it's dead (simple enough right?).
3. Open up the center of the bush. Cut away any horizontal growing canes that may rub against your healthy upward growing canes. 
4. Remove thin weak growth...(anything smaller than a pencil).
5. Prune all remaining canes by cutting 1/4" to 1/2 " above an outward facing bud eye or connection joint of a leaf and a stem. NOTE: Make all cuts at a 45 degree angle sloping away from the bud eye. 
6. Seal your fresh cuts with a compound of your choice to protect from disease and pests. 
7. Clean up all debris. 
8. Fertilize your rose bushes with a fertilizer of your choice. 

Let's Wrap Things Up!
Now that you know what you need, when to do it, and how to do it, you're all set! Still seem like a bit much to maintain? Hire one of our members and Neighbor's Lawn Care and let us care your your precious roses and any other plants you have. We will do all the maintenance so that you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of...our labor! 

When it comes to curb appeal, garden edging can really make or break your lawn's aesthetics. Edging doesn't have to be difficult or expensive! We have compiled a few simple and affordable options for making your gardens and flower beds pop without sacrificing quality. 

Cinder Blocks:
Cinder blocks are one of the most versatile construction materials you can find. People use them for all sorts of things, including garden edging. They are low maintenance and cost effective. You can also, plant your flowers inside the openings to add a green edge to your garden as well. 

Steel Edging: 
Steel edging gives your garden that raised look and can be molded and shaped to fit any flowerbed. The aging of steel surfaces creates a highly sought after rustic appeal. 

Gabion Walls:
Gabion walls are absolutely stunning in almost any setting. River rock provides a neutral color setting that doesn't take away from your beautiful flowers. They are easy to construct and low maintenance. 

Terracotta Pots:
Terracotta pots are cheap and simple to lay out. You can shape them to fit any flowerbed and they look marvelous. 

Glass Bottles:
If you're a wine drinker or you utilize a lot of glass bottles in your home, upcycle them for a gorgeous garden edge! 

Wood: 
Painted and distressed wood gives you the flexibility to use your own custom color options. You don't have to go out and buy lumber at full price. Many people use old pallets or fences pieces after upgrading their fences. Using different sizes gives your garden a more artsy style. 

Logs: 
Recently have an old tree cut down? Live near a place that supplies firewood? Get your hands on some old tree logs or stumps and line your garden with those. This gives your garden a more earthy and natural feel. 

Plates:
Are you ready to upgrade your dishes? Put those old plates to use and line your garden with them. Plates are so simple to lay out and give your garden a more retro look. 

Stone:
If you're more of a traditionalist, you can use the traditional stone to line your flowerbeds. They are easy to layout and you can find many different color patterns to fit your style. 

Brick:
Another traditional and simple option is brick. Brick is affordable, low maintenance, and easy to get a hold of. You don't need to mortar it together, although many may do this to prevent weeds from growing through. Either way, brick is always a pretty and modern way to go. 

Gravel/Rocks:
Gravel is one of the most cost effective garden edging options. You can easily manipulate it and shape it and it allows for some earthy and colorful options. 

Whatever your style and budget are, there are so many options to easily edge your garden beds. If you aren't into DIY projects you may want to hire someone to do the job for you. At Neighbors Lawn Care, we specialize in all sorts of garden edging. Contact us today for a free consultation and we can get your yard looking fabulous this summer season!

This is probably the most common question when it comes to lawn maintenance and there are a lot of factors that play into the correct answer. If you find yourself asking how often you should be watering your lawn, keep reading because we will answer this question entirely. 
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Spring is upon us and with April showers we can assure you there will be May flowers. This includes high grass and unwanted weeds. There is nothing like a fresh cut green lawn to make you proud of your home.

We have compiled a list of our top early Spring lawn care tips. Get started now so that you can have a beautiful lawn all year long.

Tune Up Your Mower: It’s important to ensure your mower is ready for the seasons ahead. The major parts of your lawn mower should be functioning well and be in good condition if it’s going to last you all season. Double check your blades and make sure they are not bent, broken, rusted or damaged in any other way. Be sure your mower has fresh clean oil. The oil that sat in the reservoir all winter long is likely bad and needs to be drained and replaced with fresh oil. Be sure there are no cracks or holes in your gas tank or oil reservoirs. Ensure the hand bars are functioning appropriately and the cranks are not catching on anything. Many times the weathering process can wear down fibers on crank ropes or cords so you may want to replace yours if you notice any fraying. Clean out around the blades to ensure nothing is compacted and keeping them from rotating.

With a tuned up mower you are prepared for the spring and summer seasons ahead of you. Don’t have a mower? No problem. Our team at Neighbor’s Lawn care is a cut above the rest and on standby to ensure your lawn care needs are met to the fullest. Contact us today for a consultation.

Clean up: Do a quick walk around your lawn and pick up any debris that has blown into your yard through all the April Texas storms. We know it’s tornado season so you will likely need to police your lawn weekly during this time. Pick up large sticks, twigs, rocks and other debris that may damage your mower or become shrapnel when your mower blades kick them up. This will help maintain the aesthetic appeal of your lawn and prevent damage to your mower and yourself.  

Repair Bald Spots: There are many reasons you may end up with bald spots on your lawn. The top reason is pets. You may also experience yellow spots from pet urine. It’s important to keep pet feces cleaned up all year long to prevent yellowing or bald spots.

If you have a bald spot you can easily fix it with some seed. Ensure you water the new seeds daily for at least a week. We recommend you don’t mow over that spot until the grass is at least 2 inches high or even with the surrounding grass. You shouldn’t need a seed spreader for minor bald spots but you do want to ensure you have enough seed to cover the entire spot. Follow the directions on the packaging for your seed.

Southern Weed Control: It’s no secret that weeds are a common thing in the southern states. Texas predominantly sees, dollar weed, clovers and dandelions. Now is the time to fight the weeds. Get them while it’s still early. You likely have a fire ant issue as well so you will want to find a triple action weed  and ant killer with grass fertilizer.

Choosing the correct chemical can be a headache. For most of the fertilizers and weed killers you will want to wait for a week that isn’t calling for heavy rainfall. Flash flooding can wash away your fertilizer and weed killers. Check your weather and choose a nice sunny day. Water your freshly fertilized lawn for about 10-15 minutes to ensure the fertilizer soaks in well. Allow the lawn 30-60 minutes to dry before allowing pets or people on the lawn.

Mow High: Set your blade height for 3”-4”. Most turf type grasses thrive best at that height due to the root depths. Many people think if they trim at the lowest level they won’t have to mow as often but this can be very damaging to your lawn because those deep seeded roots may not get enough moisture if trimmed to low and they will die off quicker. If you want to maintain a lush green lawn, setting your blade higher for the early Spring season is your best bet. The grass will benefit greatly from all the early rain fall. For shallow roots, trimming to low will result in washing up your grass all together and you will have multiple bald spots around your lawn.
Don’t know how to determine what height your blade should be at? No problem. Call us for a free consultation and we can assist you with that as well.

Edge Beds: Now is the time to start edging up your flower beds. This will give your lawn that crisp clean look all season long. You can also apply fresh mulch to those beds that give your lawn that transitional color pop all season long. You want to replace your mulch every year and many people neglect that. Also take some time to pull weeds out of your flower beds before adding mulch and trim your hedges and bushes so they don’t have stray twigs and branches. Early spring is the perfect time for planting new bulbs and flower seeds. They get all the sunshine and water they need but you want to ensure you have evicted all your weeds to prevent them from suffocating your new spring flowers.
 
                                         Start on Your Lawn Today!
Now is the perfect time to get started on all of this. It may seem like a lot and we totally understand. At Neighbor’s Lawn Care we are more than happy to assist you with all of your lawn care needs. Let us get your lawn all set for this season. Call us today for a free consultation and we will get you on the track to a lush, beautiful, green lawn this year!