RI Landscaper 855RILAWNS

Landscaper Serving Southern Rhode Island Since 2001

Proper Care For New England Lawns

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Lawns of the New England states are affected by the regional characteristics that are specific to the climate and geography of the area. These characteristics influence all aspects of lawn care from fertilization needs to disease and pest control. Keeping New England turfs healthy requires not only an understanding of the region’s natural environmental specificities but also consideration of the health needs of the various types of turf grasses that are commonly found among the area’s landscapes.

Proper Care For New England Lawns

Species Of Lawn Turfs

As true with any region of the country, certain grass species grow better in New England than others do, making turf selection critical to a healthy and successful landscape. Typically, grasses can be divided into cool season and warm season categories. In New England, cool-season grasses should be considered in accordance with the climate that is indicative of the region. Grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, for instance,  thrive in the cool temperatures and provide a range of mixtures suitable for sunny or shady lawns.

Fertilization Considerations

Any turf grass requires regular fertilization in order to thrive. A healthy, dense lawn is less susceptible to problems such as fungal diseases and weed invasions. In New England, grass should be fertilized once in the spring and then again in the fall, preferably in the months of May and September. The weather patterns of the region indicate that fertilizing lawns earlier than April and later than October will decrease their ability to utilize the nutrients effectively, creating growth problems and diseased turfs.

Hydration

Even the hardiest of turfs require proper hydration in order to be healthy and grow as intended. New England turf needs only an inch of water per week, which is critical to keeping them hydrated at their optimum levels. Setting sprinklers to run in accordance with this measurement will keep the roots from dying due to overwatering or extreme drought. If watered incorrectly, fungus and other diseases can take hold and become difficult to remedy, costing the health of the landscape and loss of turf.

Professional Care

Due to the specific needs of turfgrasses, healthy lawns can be both time consuming and expensive to maintain on your own. Warding off pests, disease, and environmental threats can spin into an overwhelming cycle of upkeep and replacement of landscape. At RI Lawns, we are experienced in caring for and managing New England lawns and landscapes. We take pride in providing the highest quality of lawn care through services designed to meet your needs. Call RI Lawns today and let us take care of your lawn care needs.

October is For Organizing!

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Fall is here and I don’t know about you but I’d like a few things organized before it gets too cold (and I get too lazy). I know so many of us are working from home these days so a bit of decluttering might make the day go by a bit easier.

  • Get rid of clothes you no longer wear or need.  This seems like an obvious one but how many of us have a closet full of things we haven’t worn in years? If an item is damaged or stained, use it as a cleaning rag. If there’s still life in it, donate! Someone else will love it just as much as you once did.
  • Once you’ve whittled down your wardrobe, it’s time to organize that closet. Put like clothes together by season with your fall/winter clothes front and center. If you don’t have a shoe rack, move your sandals and lightweight shoes to the back and put your boots and the like where you can easily reach them (or get a little shoe rack near the front door). 
  • Working from home? Don’t forget to organize your work space. Have everything you need handy so you don’t have to search high and low for paper and a pen. Is your chair comfortable? Is your laptop at a comfortable level? Invest now on something both stylish and functional to make your days go smoother. 
  • Check out your wood stove or fireplace. Empty any leftover ash and clean the exteriors with a commercial grade cleaner meant specifically for your stove. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, call a chimney sweep to perform maintenance (yes, there are still chimney sweeps!). Order firewood now!
ri firewood
  • Your car should be checked out now. Make sure you have your vehicle winterized by a professional. How’s the battery? Do you need snow tires? When was the last time you had the system flushed? Make an appointment with your mechanic now. Have you neglected the interior over the summer? Time to get rid of any garbage, vacuum and clean it (or better yet, take it to be professionally detailed!). Support your small businesses now.
  • Get your rakes and blowers ready! The leaves will be falling soon so you’ll want to have everything ready to go if you’re going to do your own fall cleanup. Rather not deal with it yourself? Let our professional crews take care of it for you! This service is a great way to prepare your lawn and property for the winter season.
Fall Cleanups RI

Do you have some favorite organizing tips? Share them!

WHAT’S ‘SUP, SEPTEMBER?

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Back with another blog post! Hoping you and yours are doing well during these very strange days. We’re going to take this time to fill you in on our summer and what the fabulous crews at 855-RILAWNS have been up to for the last couple months.

The mow crews continue to crush it each and every day, despite the many heat waves we have had here in Southern New England. We know we are lucky to have such dependable men working for us and would like to give a shout out to them all!

The gardening crews have been plugging away each and every day, weeding, planting and trimming at so many of your beautiful properties. The gardening promo that we ran was such a hit we extended it into August and so many new gardening customers were amazed by what the crews could do in just a few hours! 

BEFORE
AFTER

Did you know we do deck repairs? Along with power-washing, 855-RILAWNS can repair or replace existing decking and paint it to look new. Would you like to plant some bushes or perennials around your deck? We have gardeners with great ideas to make your property look the best it can be (you’d be surprised what a little mulch and a few plants can do!)

NEW BOARDS, NEW LIGHTS AND NEW PAINT JOB!

The cooler nights mean it’s time to seed and aerate your lawn. We often forget about doing anything to the grass until spring but this really is the absolute best time to seed. If you want to have the healthiest lawn, 855-RILAWNS is the company to call. All the details of our fertilizing program may be found here.

How are your veggie gardens holding up? It certainly has been a tough year with the heat and a water ban in much of the area. When it’s time to clean up the garden, we have some previous blog posts that might help you. Would you rather have someone come in and clear it out for you? Our gardeners can make fast work of it. If you’re looking for ideas for new raised beds for next year, reach out! We would be happy to set them up for you.

Fall is only a few weeks away. Enjoy the last days of summer!

SEEDS!

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Welcome to another blog post from your friends at 855-RILAWNS. As we write, the crews are working hard in one of the toughest heat waves we have had in several years. We’re hoping that you are keeping cool and enjoying your summer.

Our newsletter is all about seeds this month so we decided to keep with the theme and have our blog continue the trend. Come along with us as we consider the mighty seed.

Gardening is a passion for so many these days, especially now that more people are choosing to grow their own vegetables rather than buy from the market. Did you order seed online or go to the store to buy them only to find your favorite varieties sold out? Were you among the many that tried their hand at baking bread in April and are now trying to jar pickles? Flour shortage in the spring followed by a vinegar shortage in the summer. This is the new normal. 

When planting your vegetable garden, have you considered perennial (come back yearly) vegetables? The tomatoes we planted last summer at the shop have all reseeded themselves and we have a ton of delicious cherry tomatoes. Did you know that there are varieties of broccoli and spinach that are perennial vegetables? No need to buy seeds every year! Here is a blog with a list of perennial vegetables as well as perennial herbs and fruits.

There are so many seeds but our favorite is grass seed (we ARE 855-RILAWNS, after all). Grass is one of the hardiest plants out there and it all starts with the seed. Have you considered starting your lawn from seed? This blog post has all the steps you will need to follow.

Would you rather have someone do the heavy work for you? The professional crews at 855-RILAWNS have the machines and skills to make the job efficient and successful. We are running a special for the month of August of $99 off all lawn renovations. All the details of the service may be found on our website.

Have a great month and we’ll see you in September!

GARDENING TIPS

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Welcome to another monthly blog! We hope this finds you well and safe. Maybe you’ve been spending more time at home these days and you have decided to do some of those projects you’ve put off for years or maybe you are just catching up on some weeding or planting. We have some tips that may help make the jobs a bit easier.

First off, have the right tools on hand for the jobs. Get some gardening gloves and a set of hand tools at your local hardware store. If you’ve ever tried trimming rose bushes with regular scissors and no gloves, you’ll know why you really need the right tools (ouch!). If you’re growing vegetables, you might want some cages for the tomatoes, something for the peas to grow up, something to deter the critters from getting into everything…

Dress for the weather. A floppy hat, sunscreen (yes, you can burn on cloudy days!), the aforementioned gloves and some bug spray if needed should always be on hand. Have plenty of water available so you don’t dehydrate and consider getting the bigger tasks done earlier in the day before it gets too hot outside. 

Consider getting a comfortable seat for yourself. There are plenty of different ones available that are weatherproof and sturdy. The one I currently use can be used to sit on as well knelt on when flipped over. It’s great! 

Ready to start your gardening for the day? Grab your tools and make a plan. Pulling weeds? Have a bucket handy to toss them in. Planting? Whether you’re growing from seeds or plants you might want to draw out where you are going to dig before you start. Do you have an empty bed that’s already weeded and ready to go? Consider putting down some landscape fabric before you plant to minimize weeds. Make sure to leave plenty of room for growth (have you seen how much room a single cabbage plant needs?). 

Get those weeds!

Gardening isn’t for everyone. If you love plants but don’t want to be bothered with the maintenance, we have dedicated crews of gardeners that will come to your property and transform those weedy beds into something you can be proud of.