If you’ve ever seen a spy film, you know that having the proper intel before starting a mission is the key to success. (Wearing a truly excellent tuxedo and having a martini in hand doesn’t hurt, either.) But tuxedos aside, people say “Knowledge is power” for a reason! Having the facts lets you know how to respond to a problem efficiently and effectively. That’s why we offer soil testing as one of our Atlanta lawn care services. 

Soil Testing Benefits 

What is soil testing?

Soil testing is a service in which we take samples of the soil in your yard and test for nutrient and pH levels. If soil pH is outside of the normal range, it can cause a dearth of vital nutrients like iron and phosphorus that your plants need to stay healthy. Different plants have different optimal pH and nutrient levels, so knowing a baseline for your soil can help you determine the best way to amend the soil for bigger, brighter blooms and happier plants. For instance, veggies, flowers, and grasses typically do best in soil that measures slightly acidic with a pH of 6.0-6.5. Some plants, like azaleas, need more acidic soil to reach their potential. Others, like hydrangeas, can change color based on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The more acidic the soil, the bluer the blooms. If the soil is more alkaline, the flowers will turn purple or even pink!

We provide a detailed analysis of your soil, which allows us to further customize your program with the optimal services for your specific yard. Fall is a great time to conduct a soil test for your lawn. Nutrients or treatments administered this fall and winter, based on recommendations from your soil test, will allow the soil’s pH and nutrient levels to have time to adjust before your lawn and plants come out of dormancy in the spring. 

How can I get my soil tested in Atlanta? 

If you’re interested in getting a soil test, give us a call at 770-923-0387 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get in touch with you! Our soil testing service is $25. Don’t wait too long—take advantage of this perfect time of year for soil testing and learn what your lawn needs now to thrive come springtime. 

We can take and test as many samples as you want, so you can get a picture of what your lawn, trees, shrubs, and landscape plants need. 

If you have ever wondered why a particular planting is not thriving in your yard, soil testing can help identify the issue and point to the proper treatments to fix it. (Soil testing should not be done if the soil is wet or if it has been fertilized recently, as these factors can throw off the accuracy of the test.)

March, April, and June are rainy months, and if you don’t know how to deal with all that water it can wreak havoc on your lawn. While plenty of rain is certainly better than the alternative, you need to know how to keep your landscaping looking great no matter how much precipitation comes your way. Enter Simply Green. Our Atlanta lawn care company is passionate about keeping our customers’ lawns lush, green, and thriving, and we’re happy to share some of our best lawn care tips with you. 

Keep reading to learn how to keep your lawn healthy during heavy rain, and be sure to contact us for any of your residential lawn care needs. 

Rainy Season Lawn Care Tips

Rain, rain, go away! How to solve drainage problems.

No, yelling demands at the clouds isn’t going to help, but you do need some way for the water to leave your yard, rather than settling into low-lying areas and standing stagnant for hours or days on end. Allowing this standing water to persist can be very damaging, not only to your grass and other plants, but also because it invites mosquitoes. Mosquitoes love shallow, standing water as it makes a great place to lay their eggs. 

So, what can you do about a poorly draining yard? There are several options, but which one you choose depends on your unique situation. 

• Install a drain. You might be surprised at how simple it is to install a french drain in your yard. While labor-intensive, it will make a world of difference in your enjoyment of your yard and the health of your grass, and if done properly, it should last from 30 to 40 years. 
• Re-grade the yard. Grading involves creating a slope to direct water away from the foundation of your house and other areas, instead diverting it to a drain, gutter, or other area that can handle the excess water.
• Create a dry creek bed. Dry creek beds are a practical and beautiful way to deal with excess water. There are tons of great ideas for DIY dry creek beds out there, and some are so attractive you’ll appreciate the visual appeal they add almost as much as the drainage!

Breathe easy with lawn aeration. 

Another cause of standing water in yards is soil compaction. Over time, rain, foot traffic, and gravity itself can cause the soil to get tamped down so tightly that it’s hard for water to enter the soil. Instead of penetrating the ground and filtering through soil and rock, it just flows (or sits) on the surface. The problem of soil compaction is even more prevalent around Atlanta, where it’s common to have very dense red clay soil.  The best course of action if you have either of these problems is to have your lawn aerated.
Lawn aeration is one of the services we provide here at Simply Green. The process removes plugs of soil, clearing the way for water to absorb into the soil, as well as allowing for more air flow. Core aeration literally helps your lawn breathe easier! 

After a dry and hot summer full of wishing for cooler temperatures, we are starting to feel a change in the air. The trees in the skyline are beginning to change color (at least some of them). The nights have begun getting longer and layering has become a part of getting dressed every day. These are signs that winter is coming. How do we prepare? We throw on a pot of chili, warm some apple cider, and get in front of our fireplace. Outside of our house, we bring in our hanging plants, empty and unscrew our outdoor hose, pull down any hanging branches, and clear gutters of fallen leaves. How is the best way to prep your lawn for winter? Well, we are here to tell you.

How to Prep Your Lawn for an Atlanta Winter

These next couple of weeks when you should be prepping your turfgrass management program to promote a smooth transition into dormancy and a richer green-up next spring. What does that mean? Follow these tips and your lawn will easily transition between seasons and will be ready to pop back up healthy and strong next spring.

Just like different flowers, different types of grass must be cared for differently. For this reason, we have separated the tips by grass type.

Below, we have helpful tools for prepping Warm Season Turf-Bermuda and Zoysia grass versus Cool Season Turf-Fescue grass but you can always contact us for any other questions you may have.

Warm Season Turf-Bermuda

• • Raise cutting height by ½ inch
    • This grass does not need to watered frequently, but when you do water it, make sure to water deeply. You want to give it enough water to completely saturate the root.
    • To reduce evaporation, try to irrigate in the early mornings or evenings.
    • At Simply Green Lawn Care, we are applying pre-emergence to prevent weed growth. In order to be activated and to ensure it prevents winter weeds, pre-emergence needs to be watered in at least ½ inch.
  • Mulch grass clippings instead of bagging.

Cool Season Turf-Fescue grass

• • • When the temperatures are dropping and the seasons are changing, this grass begins to grow. It is important to keep it watered.
    • September and October are the best months to aerate and seed fescue lawns. In order for the seed to germinate and grow, the soil must be kept moist 7 days a week.
    • At Simply Green, we’re applying starter fertilizers to fescue lawns. In order for it to be activated, it must be watered.

Although we have given you some pointers on how to prep your lawn for the winter months, we are more than happy to help with any of your Atlanta lawn care needs. We can handle anything from lawn care to core aeration and fire ant control. Check out our website or contact us with any questions. We hope you and your lawn stay warm and cozy in these upcoming winter months.

If you’ve worked hard to create a beautifully lush lawn, you know how frustrating it can be when weeds crop up. Read on to learn the most common lawn weeds in Georgia (and how to get rid of them) from our team at Simply Green Lawn Care. 

The Most Common Lawn Weeds in Georgia

• Clover – Clover is pretty cute for a weed, but unfortunately it can wreak havoc on your lawn! This weed grows in patches that can take over your yard before you know it. Be careful not to contaminate your grass clippings with it, as this can allow the clover to spread.
• Dandelions – Another contender for cutest weed, dandelions can nevertheless be an annoying lawn pest. Blowing the wispy seeds off a dandelion is a hallmark of childhood in Georgia, but unfortunately the same thing that makes them irresistible to kids also makes them adept at spreading throughout your lawn. 
• Bluegrass – Bluegrass infestations are particularly insidious because the weed is perennial (meaning it grows at all times of the year) and the prominent seed structure of the weed means that it re-seeds itself. 
• Yellow Nutsedge – At first, yellow nutsedge isn’t that noticeable in your lawn, appearing much like a grass. However, once it’s established, you’ll see that this weed grows unsightly yellow or brown seed heads. Yellow nutsedge is able to reproduce by seeds, creeping rhizomes, and tubers, making it a very effective invasive plant. 
• Crab Grass –  No list of Georgia weeds is complete without crab grass. This lawn weed is ugly and tenacious, even managing to grow in cracks in your driveway or walkway, between bricks, and wherever else it can find footing. 

The best way to fight weeds is through expert weed control and fertilization. At Simply Green Lawn Care, we offer Atlanta lawn care services designed to prevent weeds through application of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. We also make sure your grass stays healthy (which is an important weed control element in its own right) by applying fertilizer, lime, etc. as needed throughout the year. Ready to weed out the invaders in your lawn? Schedule your Atlanta lawncare estimate with us today!