Lawn Care FAQ
Frequently asked questions about lawn care, weed control, watering, aeration, and pest treatments from Safari Lawn Care in Memphis, TN.
What is a pre-emergent?
- Pre-emergent is applied to the lawn to stop the germination of weed seeds and kill weed seedlings. Pre-emergent is effective for around 90 days and too much can damage your grass. Pre-emergent makes no difference on weeds that are already established — it only prevents new seeds from germinating.
Why is my Bermuda lawn not greening up as quickly as my neighbor's?
- There are many different varieties of Bermuda and yours may have a different trigger for greening than your neighbor's. Your neighbor may have mowed his yard lower, allowing heat and light to penetrate to the soil and roots more effectively. Also, the quality of the soil and the varieties of grass make a difference.
How much watering do I need to do?
- Your rate of watering should be coordinated with your rate of fertilization. Our fertilization program is designed to complement once-a-week watering for one hour over the total area of your yard. This schedule may need to increase during extreme heat.
What about watering more frequently for a shorter duration?
- Frequent watering for shorter duration will still leach nutrients from the soil, but more importantly, this practice creates a weak root system. One hour of watering should allow the water to penetrate six to twelve inches into the soil, which is where you want the roots to be.
When I water for an hour, my yard just holds water. What should I do?
- This is generally due to compaction of the soil. For smaller problems, the lawn should be aerated to loosen the soil and allow water to penetrate the surface. In the meantime, try watering until it starts to flow off and then stop, wait 20–30 minutes, and begin again.
Why are there brown patches or bare spots in my lawn?
- Several things can cause brown or bare spots. Female dog urine will spot a yard. If the spots are under trees, show up in summer and during drought, trees may have sucked moisture and nutrients out of the area. Disease, grubs, and over-application of fertilizer can also cause spots.
What is aeration?
- Aeration is pulling small plugs out of the turf to allow water, air, and fertilizers to penetrate deeper into the soil. This promotes a more extensive root system. A deeply rooted system allows the plant to withstand hot, dry periods.
How often should I aerate?
- Memphis has a clay soil which can easily become compacted. Aeration once a year seems to be sufficient to achieve the desired result.
What is overseeding?
- Some customers want a green yard year-round. As Bermuda lawns go dormant, they may overseed with a cool-season grass — usually annual or perennial rye — over a dormant Bermuda lawn to provide winter color. For Fescue, yearly overseeding is highly recommended. Our summers take a toll on Fescue and thin the turf. Reseed with Fescue seed in late September or early October.