Lawn Care Frequently Asked Questions | Baltimore, Howard County MD

You just treated my lawn. Why didn’t the treatment kill all the weeds?

It can take 10-14 days for weeds to die after a treatment. However, new weeds may have germinated after your lawn was serviced. Weed seeds are prevalent in the soil and these seeds can remain viable for many years and germinate when environmental conditions favor germination.

Why do I have mushrooms?

Mushrooms often pop up after extended periods of damp weather with moderate temperatures. They can flourish in damp, shady areas as well as full sun areas. These amazing fungi break down decaying organic material such as old construction debris, old tree stumps, tree roots and any other organic matter. Mushrooms typically appear and disappear as weather conditions change throughout the year.

How long should I wait to mow my lawn after a treatment?

It’s best to refrain from mowing for a few days to a week prior to treatments. Wait for 1 day after your lawn treatment. Weeds are a recurring problem, so we utilize IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and only treat where weeds are active. Should covered broadleaf weeds reoccur during the current treatment year, notify our office for free weed control re-treatment.

Why do I need a soil test?

Scientific Plant Service performs soil testing to gain a better understanding of individual lawn care needs. Soil testing should be performed every 3 years to determine the pH and soil nutrient levels of each lawn. The results of the soil test provide the necessary information needed to determine the correct course of action for your property. Using this information, fertilizer and soil amendment recommendations unique to your lawn will be provided by your advisor. In addition, State law requires a soil test verifying low soil Phosphorus before a phosphorus application can be made.

How long do I have to wait after a treatment before I can let my children and pets on the lawn?

After a liquid treatment, we ask that you keep people and pets off the lawn until the product dries, this usually takes about an hour. The time may vary depending on humidity and temperature. After a granular treatment it is not necessary to keep people and pets off the lawn.

How often should I water my lawn?

For newly seeded lawns

it is best to provide 15 minutes of water per section daily for 14 – 21 days until the newly germinated seed has developed a root system. It is recommended to water in the early morning hours. The cooler temperatures and calmer winds allow water to soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate. Watering at night can promote the spread of fungal disease.

During the growing season

your turf grows best with between ½ and 1 inch of water per week whether from rainfall or watering. Watering to moisten the top 8 inches of soil will encourage deeper rooting and better lawn health. Allow the soil to dry before watering again. Caution: if the water starts to pool or run off, stop watering since this means the ground has absorbed all it can at this time.

My lawn was seeded a week ago, why isn’t the grass growing?

Generally, with the proper temperature and soil moisture, grass seed can take between 14-21 days before germination begins.

When is the best time to aerate and seed?

Generally, late summer through fall is the best time to seed. Scientific Plant Service offers seeding and aeration in the in the spring and the fall, depending on individual lawn care schedules. Spring seeding can be better for shady lawns with large trees.

Why won’t my grass grow in the shady areas?

Turfgrasses require more than 4 hours of bright sunlight daily. Throughout the summer months, in addition to blocking sunlight, tree roots compete with grasses for the water and the nutrients in the soil. Fine Fescues are the most shade-tolerant turfgrasses but they are susceptible to traffic damage. If your lawn is too shady to grow grass, we recommend a shade-loving ground cover such as Pachysandra.

Recommendations

One of the keys to a healthy thick lawn is to implement good cultural practices. These include:

Maintain a mowing height of 3” – 4”. Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf blades’ height
Keep the mower blade sharp
Keep the root zone moist but not saturated
Core aerate 1 -2 times per year
Broadcast or slice seed annually to replace lost grass plants and fill thin areas

Scientific Plant Service – Lawn Care Frequently Asked Questions

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