When it comes to achieving a lush, green, and healthy lawn, it’s easy to think you can leave everything up to the professionals. While Greengate Turf & Pest is here to provide expert care and guidance, the reality is that great lawn care is a partnership. Think of it as “co-parenting” your lawn—we each have a role to play in making sure your turf thrives.
Greengate’s Role in Co-Parenting Your Lawn: The Experts in Lawn Health
At Greengate Turf & Pest, we bring the science and strategy to ensure your lawn gets the best possible care. Here’s what you can count on us for:
1. Customized Treatment Plans
Every lawn is unique. We analyze the specific needs of your grass type, soil conditions, and local climate (hello, Houston humidity!) to create a personalized care program. From fertilization to weed control and pest management, we’ve got your lawn’s back.
2. Professional-Grade Products
We use high-quality, environmentally responsible products that deliver results while keeping your family, pets, and the environment safe. Our products are specifically formulated to provide the essential nutrients your lawn needs to thrive, promote healthy growth, and enhance its resilience against weeds, pests, and diseases. By combining scientific research with eco-conscious practices, we ensure your lawn receives effective treatments throughout the year without compromising safety or sustainability. You can trust that every application is carefully calibrated to support your lawn’s health, regardless of the time of year.
3. Seasonal Expertise
Lawn care isn’t a one-size-fits-all process—it requires adjusting strategies based on the time of year. Our team stays on top of seasonal challenges—whether it’s tackling summer weeds or preparing your lawn for winter dormancy—so your grass stays healthy year-round. Your lawn will receive exactly what it needs when it needs it.
4. Aeration Services and pH Testing
Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving lawn. That’s why we offer professional aeration services to reduce soil compaction and improve water and nutrient absorption. Additionally, our pH testing service (included in our basic fertilization and weed control program, as well as all of our lawn bundles!) ensures your soil is in the optimal range for grass growth, allowing us to recommend amendments if needed.
5. Lawn Pest Control
Insects can wreak havoc on your lawn if left unchecked. We offer targeted pest control treatments to protect your turf from harmful pests such as fire ants, chinch bugs, sod webworms, grubs, and more. These pests can damage grass roots, create unsightly patches, and compromise your lawn’s overall health. Our proactive pest management keeps your lawn safe and thriving.
Your Role in Co-Parenting Your Lawn: The Day-to-Day Parent
While we handle the technical aspects, there are essential tasks you can do to support your lawn’s progress. Your lawn relies on you to nurture it between our visits.
1. Avoid Fertilizing on Your Own
As part of our comprehensive lawn care program, we provide professional-grade fertilization treatments tailored to your lawn’s specific needs. Applying additional fertilizer on your own can disrupt the balance of our treatments and potentially harm your lawn. If you feel something isn’t right or notice any issues, please contact our office. We’ll assess the situation and adjust our plan if necessary.
2. Consistent Mowing
Proper mowing is crucial to your lawn’s health. Keep your mower blades sharp and avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass height at a time. For St. Augustine grass, maintain a height of 3-4 inches for optimal growth.
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Mowing Frequency:
- Mow often enough to avoid removing too much at once. During peak growth seasons, you may need to mow weekly.
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Grasscycling:
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn when you mow. These clippings act as a natural fertilizer, returning nutrients to the soil.
Located in our mowing/maintenance service area? Let us handle this one!
3. Regular Watering
Your lawn needs consistent hydration, especially in Houston’s heat. While we provide the nutrients it needs with our lawn fertilization, it’s important to remember that your grass is a living, breathing organism – it needs water to survive! The amount of water your lawn needs will vary heavily based on grass type, time of year, and lawn features.
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Timing:
- Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation and reduce the risk of disease.
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Irrigation Check:
- Regularly inspect your sprinkler system for clogs, leaks, or uneven coverage. Proper irrigation ensures every area of your lawn receives adequate water.
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No irrigation system?
- That’s okay! Watering with a hose or two will do just fine. Simply connect an oscillating sprinkler to the hose. The attachments with a timer will make it even easier to ensure your lawn receives the correct amount of water.
4. Monitoring and Communication
Monitor your lawn for any signs of trouble, like invasive weeds or pest activity. Additionally, keep consistent communication with us so we know of any changes you’re planning to make in your lawn! We will do our part to keep you in the know with our post-application emails which will also include a personalized checklist from your technician about your lawn.
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Weed Removal:
Crabgrass – Make sure to remove the entire root! - Pull more difficult weeds manually when they appear, focusing on root removal to prevent regrowth.
- Weeds that should usually be pulled out include crabgrass, torpedo grass, and Dallis grass.
- Read more about grassy weeds.
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Pest Control:
- Watch for indicators like discolored patches or visible insects. If you spot an issue, notify us promptly for targeted treatments.
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Sod Installation:
- Occasionally, patching with sod is necessary to help certain areas of your lawn fill in with new grass, especially as weeds begin to die off. It’s important to inform us when new sod is installed so we can avoid fertilizing the area too soon. Remember: new sod needs to remain consistently moist for the first two weeks after installation to help the roots establish in the soil.
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Seeding:
- Please keep us informed if you put down new seed on your lawn. We want to ensure that we don’t interfere with the progress you’re trying to achieve! It’s important to note that seeding is not recommended in Houston. Specifically, there is no such thing as St. Augustine seed, and most Bermuda seeds are mixed with other types of “grasses,” which are actually just weeds (shhh… don’t tell them we know). It’s better to patch areas with sod if you need to fill in spots.
5. Seasonal Cleanup
Remove fallen leaves, branches, and debris from your lawn to prevent fungal growth and ensure your grass receives adequate sunlight.
Located in our mowing/maintenance service area? Let us handle this one!
The Key to Success: Communication and Teamwork
Co-parenting your lawn is all about collaboration. When you follow our recommendations and share your observations, we can adjust our approach to meet your lawn’s evolving needs. Together, we create the perfect environment for your grass to flourish.
The Payoff: A Lawn You Can Be Proud Of
With Greengate Turf & Pest as your partner through co-parenting your lawn, you’ll enjoy the rewards of a vibrant, healthy lawn that enhances your home’s curb appeal and provides a welcoming space for family and friends. By working together, we ensure your lawn reaches its full potential.
Ready to start co-parenting your lawn? Contact Greengate Turf & Pest today and let’s grow something beautiful together!
