Landscape Archives

Spring Lawn Care: When Do You Need to Start?

Posted on March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

lawn transitioning from winter to spring

Warmer temps and green grass peeking through the soil are clear signs that spring is here. This transition period is critical for homeowners to start thinking about their lawn care routine. Proper spring lawn care ensures your lawn is lush, healthy, and vibrant throughout the warmer months. But when is the right time to start, and what steps should you take? Let’s dive into the essentials of spring lawn care, including the ideal timing and practices for a thriving yard.

Understanding the Timing for Spring Lawn Care

In South Carolina, the timing for spring lawn care is crucial due to the warm and humid climate. Typically, homeowners should begin their spring lawn maintenance routine when the average daily temperatures consistently rise above 55°. It’s essential to wait until the risk of frost has passed before starting more aggressive lawn care activities such as proper irrigation, fertilization, and aeration. Starting too early can harm new grass shoots and affect the lawn’s ability to thrive throughout the year.

Kick-Start Your Lawn: The First Steps

Cleaning and Inspection: Begin with a thorough cleanup. Remove debris, leaves, or branches to allow sunlight to reach the soil and grass, encouraging growth. Inspect your lawn for signs of disease or pest activity and address these issues promptly.
Aeration and Dethatching: Aerating your lawn allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil, fostering healthier grass growth. Dethatching removes the layer of dead turfgrass tissue, known as thatch, which can hinder water and nutrient penetration.
Spring Landscaping: Early spring is the ideal time to edge your lawn, define landscape beds, and trim back overgrown vegetation. This beautifies your yard and prevents encroaching plants from competing with your grass for essential nutrients.

The Role of Spring Lawn Fertilizer

Fertilizing is another important aspect of spring lawn care. The proper spring lawn fertilizer will replenish nutrients lost during the winter and kick-start growth. Applying lawn fertilizer too early can lead to premature grass growth, which is at risk of damage by late-season frost. Opt for a slow-release fertilizer that provides nutrients steadily throughout the growing season.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional

While many homeowners enjoy the satisfaction of caring for their lawns throughout the summer, hiring a professional to help with spring lawn care offers numerous benefits. Lawn care specialists have the knowledge and experience to identify and resolve issues quickly and efficiently. They can provide customized treatments based on your lawn’s specific needs and the local climate, ensuring the best lawn care for your property. Additionally, professional services can save you time and effort, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful lawn without the hassle.

Proper care during the early days of spring will lay the foundation for a lush, green landscape you can enjoy all summer. Contact the experienced team at W.P. Law for professional guidance on how to get your lawn started this spring.

Tailgate Party Tips to Upgrade Your Backyard for Football Season

Posted on October 18, 2023October 2, 2023 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

Football season is upon us, meaning it’s time to gear up for the ultimate tailgate party experience. While the traditional stadium tailgate is fun, why not take your game day festivities to the next level with a backyard tailgate? This fall is the ideal time to transform your outdoor space into a football fan’s paradise with an outdoor kitchen.

Tailgate Party Essentials for Your Backyard

Outdoor Kitchen Essentials: The food is the heart of any tailgate party. An outdoor kitchen lets you quickly whip up crowd-pleasing dishes like burgers, hot dogs, wings, and more. Outdoor grills and kitchens can handle the heat and mess, making cooking a breeze.
Convenience and Efficiency: An outdoor kitchen streamlines your cooking process, allowing you to prepare meals while engaging with your guests. No more being stuck inside by the stove or running back and forth between the grill and the indoor kitchen — everything you need is right there.
Expand Your Menu: Outdoor kitchens offer versatility, allowing you to provide even more tasty treats for your guests. Your options are limitless, from smoking ribs to baking pizzas in a wood-fired oven.
Ample Seating and Entertainment: To create the ultimate backyard tailgate, invest in comfortable seating and a big-screen T.V. Having an outdoor kitchen as the centerpiece allows you to arrange your seating area around it, ensuring that everyone is close to the action and the food.

Benefits of Outdoor Grills and Kitchens

Easy Cleanup: With outdoor grills and kitchens, cleanup is a breeze. Many models feature easy-to-clean surfaces and grease management systems, so you can spend more time enjoying the party and scrubbing pots and pans less.
Increased Home Value: An outdoor kitchen isn’t just for football season; it’s an investment in your home’s value. Outdoor living spaces are highly desirable among homebuyers, so you can enjoy your backyard tailgate parties now and reap the benefits when it’s time to sell your property.
Year-Round Use: While football season may be the reason for your backyard tailgate, you can use an outdoor kitchen year-round. It’s a versatile addition to your home, from summer barbecues to fall football gatherings to winter holiday parties.

Tips for Hosting the Perfect Backyard Football Watch Party

Plan Your Menu: The best way to welcome guests and get them to hang around all day is with great food. Plan your menu ahead of time for the perfect football party.
Comfort is Key: Consider comfortable seating options like lounge chairs, outdoor sofas, and bean bags for a relaxed atmosphere.
Game Day Decor: Deck out your outdoor space in your favorite team’s colors and decor to create a spirited atmosphere.
Sound System: Enhance the game day experience with a quality outdoor sound system so everyone can hear the play-by-play action.
Remember the Drinks: Stock up on game day beverages, from beer and soda to mocktails for non-drinkers.
Stay Weather-Ready: Prepare for changing weather conditions with outdoor heaters, umbrellas, or a covered seating area.

Upgrading your backyard tailgate with an outdoor kitchen can transform your football watch parties into the must-attend events of the fall. With careful planning and the proper outdoor kitchen and living space, you can create a backyard tailgate that will have your friends and family lining up for game day. So, this football season, contact the outdoor living experts at W.P. Law, Incorporated, and let your outdoor kitchen be the MVP of your backyard tailgate party!

Properly Watering Your Lawn This Fall

Posted on October 4, 2023October 2, 2023 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

As the leaves start to turn and the temperatures begin to drop, homeowners in South Carolina often wonder how to care for their lawns properly. During the fall months, grass in South Carolina requires special attention to ensure it stays healthy throughout the cooler months. One crucial aspect of fall lawn care is understanding when and how watering your lawn makes a difference.

The Importance of Watering Your Lawn in the Fall

Fall lawn care isn’t just about raking leaves and preparing for winter. Your grass still needs water during this season. In South Carolina, the fall weather can be unpredictable, with occasional dry spells and lingering heat. Adequate moisture is vital to help your lawn recover from the stresses of the summer and prepare it for the dormant winter period.

When to Water Your Lawn

Timing is everything when it comes to watering your lawn in the fall. The best time to water is in the morning, ideally between 6:00 and several hours before sunset (if you irrigate several times daily). This allows your grass to absorb the moisture and dry off during the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases that thrive in cool, damp conditions.

Be careful not to overwater. In South Carolina, you should aim for about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall. Use a rain gauge to measure how much precipitation your lawn receives naturally. If you’re not getting enough rain, supplement it with irrigation.

When to Stop Watering Your Lawn in the South

As the fall moves into winter and temperatures continue to drop, you’ll want to gradually reduce watering frequency. You should begin tapering off your lawn watering routine in October or early November. We suggest setting your irrigation systems at 50 to 75 percent utilizing the water budget option if your controller has one.

When the nighttime temperatures consistently stay below 70°F, the grass growth rate significantly decreases. At this point, your lawn requires less water because it’s not actively growing. However, you don’t want your lawn to go into the winter season completely parched, so continue to provide light moisture until the first frost.

The Role of the Right Irrigation Products

Investing in the right irrigation products to properly water your lawn can significantly impact your grass. Because water conservation is essential, even in South Carolina, efficient irrigation systems can help you maintain a beautiful lawn while using water wisely.

Smart Irrigation Controllers: Consider upgrading to a “smart” irrigation controller that adjusts watering schedules based on weather conditions and soil moisture levels. This ensures you’re not wasting water or overwatering during the fall season.
Drip Irrigation: For precise watering in South Carolina’s varied landscape, drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the roots, reducing water waste and promoting healthier grass.
Rain Sensors: Install rain sensors on your irrigation system to automatically pause watering when it rains, preventing overwatering and saving water and money.
Regular Maintenance: Don’t forget to regularly check your irrigation system for leaks, clogs, or broken sprinkler heads. Addressing these issues can prevent water waste and keep your lawn healthy.

Proper fall lawn care in South Carolina requires knowing when and how often you need to water your lawn. Using these tips and making intelligent choices about your irrigation system can help you enjoy a vibrant lawn that will thrive year-round in the Palmetto State. To learn more, contact your local experts at W.P. Law, Incorporated.

3 Reasons to Fertilize Your Lawn

Posted on May 10, 2023April 20, 2023 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

When you live in South Carolina, you have the benefit of nearly year-round outdoor living, but we especially love our summers. The weather is beautiful, and it’s great to spend time in our backyards, patios, and gardens. But only if the grass is green. How is your grass looking this summer? We’ve got three reasons to fertilize your lawn so you can get the most out of your yard.

#1: Nourish the Soil

The only way to have a healthy lawn is with healthy soil. And the best way to get healthy soil is by providing it with the right nutrients, including phosphorous, nitrate, and potassium. A quality fertilizer helps replenish what’s lost from rain, irrigation, sun, weather, and time.

#2: Stronger, Greener Grass

When the soil is healthy, the grass will be healthy. The only way to have a lush green lawn is by taking care of it properly with adequate water, proper mowing, and fertilizer. The fertilizer feeds the grass to keep it green and give it added strength to endure the scorching summer heat and the extreme weather we see in the South.

#3: Weed and Pest Control

Weeds take hold when the grass isn’t strong or thick enough to keep them at bay. Fertilizer isn’t a weed killer, but it prevents weed growth by helping your grass grow strong, ample roots that don’t provide the space or nutrients the weeds need. Pests aren’t an issue with a healthy lawn, either. When your grass and soil are healthy, they provide an ecosystem perfect for garden bugs that love nothing more than eating those grass and garden-killing pests.

What is the best fertilizer is for your lawn and garden? The team at W.P. Law is here to help. Reach out today to learn more about grass fertilizer and why it’s so important.

4 Planting Preparation Tips for Spring

Posted on April 19, 2023April 20, 2023 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

They’re here! We’ve got the spring planting tips you’ve been looking for to prepare your garden for a summer full of blooms. Here are our top four planting preparation tips for spring.

Tip #1: Get Organized!

One of the best prep tips is to start your spring planting prep with a little organization. First, check your supplies and restock what you need, especially soil and fertilizer. Then prep your tools so they’re ready to work. Now is also a great time to set up any raised beds or planters you want to add this year.

Tip #2: Clear the Clutter

Winter weather can bring in all kinds of stuff to mess with your planting progress. Weeds, mulch, sticks, leaves, and other debris can clutter your gardening space and slow you down. Clear out everything that covers the soil so you can plant unencumbered by the mess.

Tip #3: Prep the Soil

Don’t skip this step! Proper soil preparation is critical to your planting success. Winter weather, including the moisture and the cold, leads to compacted soil that is hard to dig in and makes it hard for roots to thrive. Loosen or till the soil down to about 14”. Mix in mulch left from last summer and add some compost to create a bed full of nutrients ready to retain moisture.

Tip #4: Check Your Irrigation

Don’t neglect your sprinkler system this spring. You don’t want to get your planting done only to find that you have issues with irrigation, such as leaks, broken sprinkler heads, or problems getting water to your desired areas. A landscape professional can help get it all back online if you do.

Proper prep for your spring planting helps ensure your garden thrives this summer. Contact W.P. Law today for more spring planting tips and all the landscaping support, including irrigation, to help keep your garden growing strong.

3 Tips to Help Prevent Damage to Your Landscape Lighting System

Posted on February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

Your landscape lighting system is a piece of your outdoor living space that highlights your yard, garden, landscaping, and home’s architecture. Unfortunately, your investment is at risk if you don’t take steps to prevent damage to the lights. Here are three tips to help keep them safe and in one piece.

Tip #1: Consider Location, Location, Location

Where you put your outdoor lighting is the most important factor in damage prevention. The first step is to ensure they’re not in the path of the lawnmower or other landscape maintenance equipment. As your landscape matures, lights will need to be adjusted or moved to prevent light blockage.

Tip #2: Use the Right Fixtures

We’re lucky with our mild climate that we don’t have to worry about mountains of snow and cold, but we do have our share of extreme weather. Investing in durable weather-proof fixtures will help ensure they’re long-lasting and can stand up to the elements.

Tip #3: Ensure Proper Installation

It can be tempting to do a DIY landscape lighting installation, but if you have more than a few lights, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. A reliable company can design the lighting system and install it to highlight your landscaping and home without exposing the wires, lights, fixtures, or components to damage from plants, insects, weather, traffic, and more.

Reach out to the outdoor living experts at W.P. Law, Inc., for more information on landscape lighting design.

4 Tips for Winter Landscaping

Posted on January 25, 2023December 22, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

A beautiful landscape is possible, even when it’s cold outside. Here are a few tips on how to make your yard stand out this winter.

You don’t have to sacrifice a gorgeous yard just because it’s not spring or summer. Winter landscaping can mean your yard stands out, even when everything isn’t green and blooming. Here are four tips for beautiful landscaping this winter.

Tip #1: Understand Your Planting Zone

Created by the USDA, Plant Hardiness Zones help determine what plants and trees will thrive in different areas of the country based on climate and temperature. Knowing your zone helps you plant things that will grow throughout the year. A good landscaping professional can help guide you on choosing the right things for your zone.

Tip #2: Don’t Stop Watering

Even when your yard appears dormant, it’s still growing and losing water. Winter water is an integral part of winter lawn care and can help your landscaping look great even during the colder months and stay healthy and strong year-round.

Tip #3: Plant for Winter Beauty

Trees such as crabapple and plants like holly look great in the winter because the fruit stays on the branches. Knowing what looks good in what season can help your yard stand out.

Tip #4: Install Landscape Lighting

One of the best ways to make your landscaping stand out in the winter is by including some landscape lighting. You can highlight what continues to thrive in the winter without emphasizing things that go dormant, such as your grass and flowers.

Winter lawn care can help your lawn and winter landscaping stand out, even when it’s cold outside. For the professional guidance you need to make your yard look great all year, contact the experienced team at W.P. Law, Inc.

2 Benefits to Irrigating Before a Cold Snap

Posted on November 23, 2022October 31, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

Taking steps to irrigate before cold weather can be a crucial step to protect your lawn and crops from frost and colder temperatures. It may seem counterintuitive, but experienced farmers know irrigating crops will initially cause the temperature in the fields to decrease as evaporation occurs and then increase as the air temperature lowers during a cold front. However, once you understand how it works, you can use irrigation to your advantage as the temperatures drop.

Here are two noteworthy benefits your plants and lawn experience when you irrigate before cold weather:

#1: Frost Damage Prevention

Because water releases heat at a slower rate than air, watering your lawn can provide natural insulation that prevents frost damage. Irrigating one or two days before a cold snap will allow enough time for saturation and thorough insulation from frigid temperatures. In addition, with the slower heat release, the plants and grass blades have more warmth for longer periods, protecting them from frost.

#2: Root Hydration

Did you know drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to cold damage? Irrigation provides your lawn and plants the moisture they need to become stronger and healthier. Think of pre-freeze irrigation as an immune system booster! The healthier the plant cells are, the stronger the plants are and the more quickly they can fight off damage from frost and cold weather.

Implementing proper irrigation is an excellent way to keep your lawn and crops healthy all year. Contact the friendly irrigation experts at W.P. Law to get started with a plan to irrigate before a cold front and give your plants all the protection they need.

Seeding vs. Sod: Which Is Best for Your Yard?

Posted on November 2, 2022October 31, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

Which is better: seeding or sod? It’s a question many homeowners have when they want to ensure their lawn is lush and healthy. The best way to answer the question is to consider your yard’s current factors and conditions.

How to Decide If Your Lawn Needs Seeding or Sod

Lawn care experts agree that assessing the current state of your yard determines whether seeding or sod is appropriate. First, you’ll need to compare the sections of weeds and dead grass to healthy grass. For example, if the lawn contains more than 40-50% dead grass or weeds, your best option is to start your yard over with new sod.

On the other hand, if 50% or more of your lawn grass is healthy, performing manual weed control and planting grass seed should be sufficient.

Another factor to consider is the grass you are growing on your property. There are more grass varieties for seeding available than sodding. So if you have a specific grass variety you prefer, you’ll need to find out if it’s available in sod or if you will need to stick with seeding.

Sod Installation Is Best Left to the Pros

While you may take a DIY approach to seeding, sod installation is more complicated. It has a brief 24-hour period for transplanting and requires proper installation. Reach out to trusted professionals to set your lawn up for success.

Whether you choose seeding or sod or are still trying to determine the best next steps for your lawn, the team at W.P. Law is here to guide you. Contact W.P. Law, Inc. today to get started.

Maintaining Warm Season Grasses in the Winter

Posted on October 19, 2022September 30, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

If you live in South Carolina, you might look out at your lawn and wonder about the best grass for Winter. Can you plant and seed in winter weather? Can you maintain warm-season grasses? Here’s what you need to know.

Which Type of Grass to Plant

There are two primary grass types, warm season and cool season. Warm season grasses green up in the spring and thrive in the summer heat and will go dormant with the first frost in late fall or early winter. Warm season grasses include centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and zoysia. Cool season grasses remain green and thrive in the winter months, but suffer during the hot summer months. Cool season grasses include tall fescue and ryegrass. While most people in SC have warm season grasses as their lawn, a few will overseed their lawn with an annual ryegrass to keep the beautiful green color year round.

To Seed or Sod, that is the Question

While you can add sod in the Winter when the grass is dormant, the roots won’t take hold until the weather warms up in the spring and summer. Fall, however, is an ideal time for seeding cool season grasses. The summer heat can make it hard for the seeds to germinate properly, while the cool temperatures let the seeds root and thrive. Ryegrass is an excellent choice for winter seeding. Once established, it will do well and provide a lush, green lawn year-round. Overseeding in Winter is also a great idea because it improves the grass’s aesthetics and increases the lawn’s resilience.

Maintaining warm-season grass and knowing the best grass for Winter is an art. Still, with the right advice and guidance, you can nurture your grass this Winter for a fantastic lawn come spring. Contact the W.P. Law, Inc. team for the advice you need for winter lawn care.