Weekly Mowing Program
A nice lawn will enhance the look and value of your house or business. Enjoy a well-manicured lawn without all the hassle. Our lawn maintenance professionals have the knowledge and skill to keep your lawn looking its best. A properly mowed lawn will be healthier, thicker, durable, and less susceptible to weeds, disease, insects, and fungi. Common mowing mistakes, such as cutting grass at the wrong height, using dull blades, and mowing too infrequently will result in damage to your lawn. Leave it to the professionals, and let Ground Solutions Inc. make your lawn the best on the block!
Fertilizer Programs
Our lawn maintenance professionals have their Nebraska Pesticide License and are specially trained to know exactly when and how to fertilize your lawn for optimum growth. When properly applied, a fertilizer program will encourage a healthy lawn which contributes to a healthier environment significantly more so than a lawn that receives no nutrients.
The properly applied fertilizer program will help grass grow strong, stay green, support in seedling development, aid in root growth, and will help the overall cell structure of grass by making it more resistant to disease and physical damage due to heavy foot traffic. Common fertilizing mistakes, such as using the wrong products, using too much, or using too little when needed will result in poor health and susceptibility to diseases. Ground Solutions Inc. can provide your lawn with regular, customized, consistent treatment and care, which will produces the best possible results.
Ground Solutions Inc. offers a complete 6 step program that begins in early spring and runs through late fall. While specializing in sports fields, schools and large commercial properties we will also accommodate even the smallest yards. Ground Solutions Inc. also offers a 100% Organic Fertilizing Program.
Early Spring (March – April)
The first application promotes resurgence from winter stress, early spring greening, and a pre-emergent for crabgrass and foxtail control. This application also includes broadleaf weed control as needed.
Spring (April – May)
In the spring, the second application adds needed nutrients to promote thickness and greening. This application contains a second round of pre-emergent for continued crabgrass and foxtail control. Broadleaf weed control will be applied as needed.
Early Summer (June – July)
This application will keep your grass nutrient-rich, and help protect your lawn from the damaging summer heat which will stress your lawn. The third application is a balanced blend of Phosphorus, Potassium, and slow released Nitrogen to nourish your lawn all summer long. Insecticide can be applied at this time also, but is rarely needed, as most yards do not have a grub or web worm problem. Broadleaf weed control may also be needed at this time.
Late Summer (July - August)
The balanced late summer fertilizer application will help maintain greening and lessen any stress effects your grass may have suffered. Broadleaf weed control may also be needed at this time.
Fall (August – September)
This balanced fertilizer application will help facilitate recovery from summer stress. We will check for grub activity at this time. Broadleaf weed control may also be needed at this time.
Winterizer (October – November)
The last application has a high ratio of nitrogen to encourage root growth and nutrient storage critical for your lawn’s survival during winter.
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Preventative Fungicide Program
Fungus can cause rapid wide-spread damage in no time at all to what looks like strong healthy grass. It looks terrible, and weakens grass where it is allowed to grow. Fungus growth prospers in Nebraska’s warm, humid summer climate. An important preventative step in assuring that your lawn is not taken over by a fungus is making sure that there is a proper balance between the water, soil, and nutrients in your yard. Wrongly diagnosed or treated lawns only further damage your soil. Our knowledgeable, trained, certified lawn care professionals will help you fix the problem and avoid further damage in your yard.
The first step in preventing fungus is proper mowing, fertilizing, aerating, and irrigation of your lawn. Unfortunately, fungus tends to thrive in Nebraska’s humid summer climate even in the best maintenanced yards. Generally, once a fungus is visible, it has already spread, and you can only react to the damage the fungus has caused (brown spots, wilted grass, etc.) Any combination of the following will perpetuate fungus growth in a yard: improper watering, a few wet/humid days, thatch build-up, infrequent mowing, or improperly cut grass. Traditional practice has always been to wait until you start to see damage, but If you know your yard is vulnerable, the only way to stop fungus before it starts and spreads is to apply proper and timely fungicide preventative treatment applications. Our Lawn Maintenance Professionals are specially trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease and fungus problems before they get out
of hand.
Often times, it is also important to check that there is enough nitrogen in your soil and grass. If there is too much, or not enough, it will often cause fungus problems. Ground Solutions Inc. can provide you with a soil test and analysis to determine what nutrients your yard may be lacking.
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Aeration
Regular aeration is critical in maintaining a healthy lawn. Aerating loosens compacted soil, increases oxygen to the roots, improves water and nutrient infiltration, encourages strong root growth, and breaks up thatch build-up.
Healthy looking grass has to start with healthy roots. Roots need oxygen from the soil to grow strong. Compacted soil restricts oxygen supply to the roots. Aerating loosens the compacted soil, which allows oxygen, water, and nutrients to reach the roots more easily. Aeration helps create a healthy soil source for roots to grow stronger and deeper, which makes the lawn more drought and disease tolerant. It is best to aerate every year on a continual basis.
Overseeding is highly recommended with most aerations. Just like everything else, grass ages, and reproduction rates slow. Thinning grass allows room for weeds to grow. Overseeding cycles in new grass to compensate for the natural slow down of the turf's reproduction, and insures your lawn stays thick and dense. Thick grass is less susceptible to weed growth. Also, there are new advances in grass seed every year improving disease resistance than those varieties already in your lawn.
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Seeding
All seed applied by Ground Solutions Inc. is certified by the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association. We typically apply one of two different varieties of seed: fescue or bluegrass.
Fescue grass is easily seeded and includes the sub species of tall bunching grasses named tall fescue and fine shorter fescues named creeping red, and chewing fescue.
All of the fescues share the same characteristics, generally being shade tolerant, staying green all year, and having very good drought resistance. Fine Fescues are more cold and shade tolerant than Tall Fescue, but both are used throughout much of the central United States.
Tall Fescue Planting Rates:
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New Lawns: 5-10 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
Recommended planting rate: 10 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
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Overseeding: 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
Fine / Creeping Red Fescue Planting Rates:
New Lawns: 3-5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
Overseeding: 3 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
Bluegrass is lush and finely textured. As most tender bladed grasses go; higher rates of fertilizer and water are needed. It's fast growing characteristic has the ability to develop a good root system against drought.
Bluegrass Planting Rates:
New Lawns: New: 1-3 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
Recommended planting rate: 3 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
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Overseeding: 1-2 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
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Gypsum
Clay soil is common around the Omaha area, and is a very poor nutrient source to grow a healthy lawn. Adding Gypsum to clay soil can help to recondition, break up, and loosen clay soil.
Soil is primarily made up of a varying combination of sand, silt, and clay particles. Clay soil is composed of mostly clay particles. Clay soil sticks to shoes and garden tools like glue, forms big clods that aren't easy to separate, and crusts over and cracks in dry weather. Clay soil compacts easily, making it difficult for plant roots to grow. Gypsum penetrates the millions of fine clay particles in soils creating air and moisture spaces that eventually loosen and break-up the soil structure.
Gypsum is neutral, non-toxic to humans and animals and does not burn. It should be noted that Gypsum does not contain any major plant nutrients, so it will still be necessary to continue a regular fertilizing program.
You will need to add gypsum regularly for an extended amount of time to receive the full benefits. A yearly application for at least three years is recommended to help improve clay soil conditions.
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Power Raking
Power raking removes excess organic debris called thatch from the lawn. Thatch is an accumulation of tightly bound semi-decomposed grass, leaves, stems, and roots that builds up on the soil surface at the base of the living grass of a lawn. Thatch build-up is normal and is only harmful to the lawn when it gets too thick. When too thick, thatch build-up obstructs water, nutrients, and oxygen from penetrating the soil and reaching the roots where they are needed. Thatch also serves as an ideal breeding ground for damaging fungus and lawn diseases. Aeration and overseeding are highly recommended with every power rake.
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Mulch Installation
A great way to keep your yard looking good is to re-mulch your landscaping. Mulching your landscaping will give your yard a fresh look and hold in moisture and warmth throughout the winter.
Ground Solutions Inc. can provide many different varieties and colors of mulch. Using mulch in your landscaping and around trees provides a decorative appearance that is ideal for adding curb appeal to yards, flower or shrub beds.
There are also some practical benefits of mulch, such as its ability to retain moisture, maintain even soil temperatures, and deters weed growth.
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Bush/Shrub Trimming
Ground Solutions Inc. can prune your bushes, shrubs, and small/ornamental trees. Pruning addresses architectural concerns such as safety, structural integrity, shape, appearance, and the seasonal character that bushes, shrubs and trees add to your property.
It’s very important to trim bushes back away from a house so they don't hold in the moisture. This helps reduce mold and mildew growth in the spring and gives your foundation that breathing space it needs.
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Gutter Cleaning
One of the most overlooked, yet very important maintenance jobs on a house is gutter cleaning. Improper gutter maintenance will lead to clogged or damaged gutters and can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your homes foundation, exterior trim, and basement. Most houses should have there gutters cleaned at least twice a year.
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Spring or Fall Clean Up
There is always clean up work to be done in a yard. Let Ground Solutions Inc. take on the task. Ground Solutions Inc. will clean up all leaves, sticks and other debris off of your lawn and landscape areas. Spending a couple of hours doing some proactive turf care will reward you with a healthier and more vigorous lawn and landscape.
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