RI Landscaper 855RILAWNS

Landscaper Serving Southern Rhode Island Since 2001

Organically Kill Crabgrass with These 8 Steps

by Leave a Comment

Do you have a problem with crabgrass? If so, you’re not alone. Crabgrass is one of the most annoying problems that you can find on your lawn. Below are the steps that you can take to organically kill crabgrass and help your yard stay crabgrass free.

8 Steps to Organically Kill Crabgrass

  • Soak Your Soil – Use your garden hose or a sprinkler to water your problem area. Then wait around half an hour so that the water has soaked in.
  • Pull the Crabgrass Out = Using a weeding tool or pitchfork, remove the young crabgrass as soon as it’s large enough that you can remove everything, including the roots. If the patch is large, it might take some time. If your lawn is wet enough, however, you might pull some clumps free by gathering its leaves inside your hand using steady pressure and pulling upward.
  • Add Some Compost – Next, add some organic compost to that area. Work your soil so it’s incorporated thoroughly.
  • Seed the Area Using Turfgrass Seed – Seed your area using grass seed. Then cover that area with weed-free straw. This is going to maintain the moisture and also protect your seeds from getting eaten by pests and birds.
  • Keep Your Soil Moist – The area should be watered a few times each day, based on your moisture conditions. Be sure your soil’s moist until your seeds sprout.
  • Start Deep Watering – Once your grass is tall enough so it can be mown, begin irrigating your lawn less frequently and more deeply. Crabgrass is very shallow-rooted. If you’re watering very frequently and only for a short amount of time, it’s going to thrive.
  • Mow Your New Grass – So that your new grass is maintained, mow the grass high. You should leave your grass at a height of anywhere from 2.5 – 3 inches. This is going to let the grass protect itself, and the crabgrass won’t have the light necessary.
  • Weed As Necessary – During the season, you should pull any crabgrass that remains and that is sprouting up. When next year rolls around, you shouldn’t have anymore.

Thank you for taking the time to read our latest blog. Please continue reading our blogs, and contact us to get a quote on our landscaping services.

WE’RE BACK! APRIL 2022

by Leave a Comment

Spring is here and the 855-RILAWNS crews are back. We are thrilled to have Pat Beaton back with us this year as our general manager. Pat had a busy winter with the addition of a new baby, rounding out his family of four. Congratulations to Pat from all of us. 

Loretta Carlone is back for the fifth season as the office manager. With her experience, you can be assured that you will be well taken care of. If you have any questions about your services, reach out! 

We’ve worked hard all winter to update services and we have a revamped fertilizer program. In an effort to expand this service, we have made several changes to our old program. Remaining committed to our sustainable, eco-friendly approach to lawn care, we have simplified our program to make it more comprehensive and affordable for our clients.

Now is the time to think about getting your flower beds back into shape. We’ve done some lovely jobs that have transformed properties. Here is an example.

BEFORE
AFTER

Pat can give you some ideas for new beds as well! Contact us today for your free estimate.

Did the plows tear up parts of your lawn? These things happen (to us all!) but there’s no need to stress. We can repair that for you.

Let’s be Facebook friends! The easiest way to keep up with us is by following our page at 855RILawns – Home | Facebook. You’ll see updates as well as get tips and tricks for your landscape. 

FALL CLEANUPS!!!

by Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year…the leaves have fallen and your lawn is covered with their colors. We know you are busy and we’ve got the equipment to make the cleanup fast and efficient.

Here are a few before and after pictures of a couple of  recent cleanups:

BEFORE/AFTER
BEFORE/AFTER

This is a property in Providence that includes a church and rectory. As you can see from the pics, the property looks much cleaner minus the giant piles of leaves. Imagine what your place could look like with a fall cleanup by 855-RILAWNS…

BEFORE
AFTER

Here is a property in East Greenwich that we recently completed a fall cleanup. We think the difference is remarkable (and the homeowner did, too!).

Is it really necessary to clean up the leaves in the fall? Absolutely! Piles of leaves on your grass will suffocate your grass and you will end up with large patches of dead grass. We know kids love to play in the piles of leaves but those piles are perfect homes for mice and bugs (yuck!). Another reason to remove the leaves if you have pets? Have you tried to find their droppings when the leaves are covering your lawn? Not an easy thing to do. Imagine playing with the kids and having them step in poop. A yard clear of leaves is much easier to pooper-scoop.

Do you prefer to rake your own leaves but have nowhere to put them when you’re finished? We have a ‘you rake ‘em, we take ‘em’ service for you. We will pick up the leaves at curbside and you won’t have to be bothered with putting them in those bags!

It’s not too late to request your free estimate. We will be scheduling fall cleanups up until Christmas. Wouldn’t it be a great gift to yourself to let someone else clean up the yard? How about a gift for your mom or dad? Reach out to us and we’ll be happy to get a crew out to you!

From all of us at 855-RILAWNS we would like to thank you for letting us serve you this year. 

A FEW OF THE PROJECTS WE COMPLETED THIS YEAR (WITH PICS FOR INSPIRATION!)

by Leave a Comment

Another season, another reason, for making landscaping memories. We’ve had a busy year with our regular mows and services and we’ve also completed some special projects for customers that have transformed the look of their properties dramatically. Come along while we check out just a few…

Clearing out years of weeds and adding mulch and plants can make your yard visually appealing! Here is a before and after pic of one of our mulch installs. The difference is amazing! The homeowner was very happy with the results and we were thrilled to help with the transformation.

BEFORE
AFTER

We’ve had multiple customers that have requested one-time mow services when their lawns have become overgrown or while their mowers were being repaired. Here is a picture of one such property. As you can see in the after pic, the lawn is now accessible and free of the snakes that had moved in (yes, snakes!). If you have an area that you’d like cleared, reach out. 

The crews did a driveway revamp at a client’s home this year. With some loam, crushed gravel and edging stones they made what was once an ordinary drive into an extraordinary focal point in the landscape. If you need some help with your stone driveway, call us today!

A quick afternoon job we recently completed was stacking some firewood for a lovely customer in Wickford. Do you have some chores that you need a hand with around your property? We can send one of our talented crews out to help you out. Want some plants divided and replanted (now is the time to divide your hostas and other hardy perennials) but don’t know where to begin? We can take care of the job for you.

READY FOR THE WOODSTOVE!

Here’s another example of how a bit of gardening and mulch can transform your property. We think the results are amazing. What do you think? It’s not too late to book a mulch install. Reach out for your free estimate. 

BEFORE
AFTER

Need your hedges trimmed? Our gardening crew can help!

Fall cleanups start soon! If you haven’t booked your cleanup, it’s not too late. Contact us today and we’ll send an estimate.

Whatever project you have in mind, let 855-RILAWNS help bring your vision to life!

SWEATER WEATHER!

by Leave a Comment

Fall is here and so is sweater weather! Time to sit by the fire in our most comfy clothes and relax after a very hot and dry summer. Are you excited for the season or are you just dreading winter and getting your yard prepared? Don’t stress! Let us take care of it for you. Whether you need your gutters cleaned, your sprinkler system winterized or a fall cleanup, 855-RILAWNS does it all. Want to rake those leaves but you have nowhere to put them? We offer a ‘you rake ‘em, we take ‘em’ service that might be for you. If you put your leaves within ten feet of the curb, we will vacuum and haul them away for you. The leaves are then brought to Earthcare Organic Farm in Charlestown where they are composted and resold as organic material. So much better for our environment than putting in bags for the garbage!

The days are certainly getting shorter! Mowing services continue through the second week of this month and then we’re beginning fall cleanups. If you had a fall cleanup with us last year you are on our list for this year! If you’d like to add gutter cleaning or even a garden clean out, give us a call. We’ve been very fortunate this year to hire some very skilled gardeners that can trim back any of your plants that require pruning for maximum health and blooms next spring.

Our hardscaping teams were busy this year with deck and driveway remodels. Whether you need some boards replaced on your deck or would like a stone edge on your drive, we have the crews that can handle your needs. Now is the time to get it done!

Driveway Remodel

Don’t forget to winterize your lawn equipment! How many times have you put your mower away without draining the gas only to find it won’t start the following spring? Popular Mechanics has a great article on the steps for preparing your mower for winter storage. Want someone to do it for you? We have a mechanic who will pick up, service your equipment, and return it back to you. Don’t want to be bothered mowing next year? Now is the perfect time to get an estimate for service in 2021.

Let us take the stress out of fall so you can sit back and relax!