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5 Ways Landscaping Can Increase the Value of Your Home.

12/21/2022

At Eastside Lawn and Irrigation we take great pride in each of our client's homes as if it were our own. Recently, one of our clients was awarded "Lawn of the Month" by their community. We know that the upkeep of your property can have an impact on not only your reputation, but also on the value of your home. Whether your home is on the market or you are simply looking for some added curb appeal, here are some helpful ideas for increasing the value of your property with your landscaping.

1. Regular Maintenance. Practice proper lawn care for your own benefit and for the gratitude of your neighbors. Keeping your grass cut to a proper height and correctly watered will help to prevent brown patches or scalping. Ask us about adding an irrigation system to make watering more convenient and consistent.

2. Plant Trees: Trees offer many benefits for the value of your property. They can add privacy, improve air quality, and create shade which makes outdoor living more desirable. If correctly positioned, trees could even lower energy bills. When choosing a tree, plan for maintenance, think carefully about a planting location, and take its mature height into consideration so you don't end up with branches hitting the house or interfering with power lines or other trees as it ages.

3. Add a Water Feature. A picturesque water feature like a fountain, waterfall, or small pond can not only create a calming ambience, but it can also boost your property value. You can also manage drainage and water runoff with creatively aesthetic enhancements like landscape rocks. Make water work for your benefit!

4. Create Privacy. When planning out your landscape design, keep in mind the areas of your property that you'd like to keep less exposed to passers-by. Strive for a cohesive look by choosing a style that complements your home’s architecture. Focus on both style and function by selecting elements like shrubs or hedges that are aesthetically pleasing and add privacy at the same time.

5. Enhance with Lighting. Upgrading or installing the lighting on the exterior of your home can increase the value of your property and enhance safety and security. Choose fixtures that complement your house and provide effective illumination to key areas like the porch, garage, side doors, and sliding glass doors. Consider installing landscape lighting as a budget-friendly way to add drama and draw attention to your plantings.

Our team has experience managing and maintaining many types of property care, from irrigation to lawn maintenance, shrub trimming and control, and more. We are ready to help you plan improvements to your landscaping and home value, and take your curb appeal to a whole new level

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Why Would Core Aeration Benefit My Lawn?

12/10/2022

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This is the perfect time to be thinking ahead for preparing your warm-season lawn for the spring. One of the keys to a vibrant summer lawn is core aeration. Here are six reasons to consider core aerating your lawn by the start of the spring season:

1. Core aeration relieves soil compaction.
Much lawn soil can pack together from drainage and traffic, which can prevent air, water and fertilizer from reaching your lawn’s root system. This can lead to dead spots, patchy grass, and even thinning. The process of removing cores in core aeration, helps to reduce soil density, thus relieving compaction.

2. Core aeration aids in thatch management.
Thatch is a layer of dead grass that accumulates on your lawn and, if left untreated, can build up to a thick layer, robbing your grass of necessary nutrients and water which can be detrimental to your lawn. Core aeration introduces thatch-decomposing microorganisms from the soil to the top of the thatch layer.

3. Core aeration increases nutrient availability.
Aeration allows air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil. When nutrients penetrate deeper into the roots, they become available to the turf. This helps to improve the effectiveness of your fertilization treatments and ongoing watering to promote a healthy turf.

4. Core aeration benefits pH modification.
It is recommended to apply lime or sulphur after core aeration in order to promote the change of pH deeper into the soil.

5. Core aeration builds a thicker lawn.
Aeration stimulates root development and growth in both warm and cool season grasses. However, cool season grasses will need overseeding to help fill in bare spots and thicken up the turf. Overseeding following core aeration will enhance the contact between seed and soil.

6. Core aeration helps reduce water runoff and puddling.
If you find your yard has runoff or drainage problems after a rain, aeration could be the fix you need as it makes the soil more absorbent.

At Eastside Lawn and Irrigation, we work with you and achieve the best results for your lawn through proper pre-service preparation and post-service care. Schedule now and we can time your aeration for the most effective benefit to your spring lawn!

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Winter: Prime Time to Think About Your Irrigation

12/2/2022

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As winter weather sets in, our thoughts turn to warmth indoors. But first, you need to consider intentionally protecting the assets around your home. Although the climate in the upstate of South Carolina is not the frozen tundra of the far north, we still experience multiple deep freezes each winter season. If you have not prepared your system for winter, you may experience significant damage or loss when spring comes around and you re-energize your sprinkler system.

WINTERIZING YOUR PRESENT SYSTEM
If you have an irrigation system it would be wise to winterize your system. This is easily done by first turning your irrigation timer off. Turn the dial on your timer (which is usually in your garage) to the “Off” orinactive position.
Next, turn off the water supply at the meter – if you have a separate meter for irrigation. If there is not a separate meter (a common situation in our area), the system needs to be turned off at the “back-flow preventer” – the device which is usually located near the water meter. Some systems have a separate control valve. If you need help locating the cut-off valve, or want to be certain to cut off the system correctly: Eastside Lawn and Irrigation would be able and glad to assist.

SERVICING YOUR PRESENT SYSTEM
Winter also is an excellent time to service an irrigation system. Scheduling appointments for any irrigation service during the regular “busy” season (spring and summer) may be challenging because of the heavy need for landscaping service. During those seasons there is usually a greater demand for professional help, but a limited supply of irrigation specialists. Service providers can often be several weeks out on scheduling during the busy time. However, appointments can often be scheduled within one week or at the most two weeks during the winter season. Eastside Lawn and Irrigation would like to provide consultation, estimates, and timely service.

Winter is also an excellent time for scheduling an inspection of your irrigation system. A yearly sprinkler check is advisable, and scheduling in the winter or early spring is an ideal time.

Contact us today to plan a good inspection and winterization of your system, so it will be up and running smoothly when your lawn is ready for spring!

Schedule Now!

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What To Do When Fall...Fell?

11/21/2022

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Leaves: Beautiful on the trees, but when they hit the ground they become a sudden responsibility. Rot and damage can take place as wet leaves stay on roof and decking; and slick leaves on driveways and sidewalks or steps can become a huge safety risk.

Besides a threat to personal safety, leaves are also danger to your lawn. Your lawn lives on water, sun, and fertilizer, and the leaves can block these necessary items from getting to the soil. A layer of leaves can also maintain moisture in a way that may not be ideal for your lawn, and become a hiding/growing spot for lawn diseases and pests if your lawn isn't cared for.

Sitting leaves can bring other challenges to your yard. Besides increased spider and snake presence (those copperheads do love a good, sunny camouflaged nap in your leaf pile!) you may find other wildlife invades with your leaves. Fungus can lurk and do lawn damage, especially if your leaf-litter remains untouched for some time.

The biggest challenge to leaf removal? Time. Many homeowners are faced with a struggle to remove leaves efficiently - leaving risk of injury, rot, and fungus to wreak their havoc. With holidays approaching, our team is prepared to clean up your leaves swiftly and professionally - protecting the safety of your lawn, property and persons with skill.

Message today for a free quote on leaf removal - just in time for those Thanksgiving plans.

#GreenvilleSClawncare #Greenvillelawn #TaylorsSClawncare #leafcare #leafremoval #GreenvilleLeaf #lawnmaintenance #turfmanagement

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Fertilizing Your Lawn

10/10/2022

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You may sometimes find yourself wondering why your lawn doesn’t seem to flourish - even though you have invested time and money to aerate and reseed the grass. A systematic program of fertilization may not be something that has been a priority. Why? Sometimes it is because there are so many choices and recommendations when it comes to commercial fertilizers. The wrong type of fertilizer or too much of the right type can be more harmful than beneficial to a lawn. Eastside Lawn and Irrigation would love to help you with your questions and can give recommendations and applications of the right fertilizer to meet the needs of your particular turf.

Start with a good soil test.

Because every lawn has different needs a soil test for every lawn is vital.

What is a soil test? Soil testing is the process of analyzing the nutrients that are present in a soil sample to determine the type and amount of fertilizer needed. Periodic soil testing provides homeowners with the critical information needed to maintain a healthy lawn or garden.

Why is this important?

• Soil testing saves money by avoiding over application of costly fertilizer

The wrong type of fertilizer or too much of the right type can be more harmful than beneficial to a lawn.

• Soil testing provides needed information to the landscaper so that he can fertilize the lawn according to its specific needs.

• Soil testing allows the landscaper to set up an accurate schedule that includes applications of fertilizers based on the recommendations for that particular lawn.

• Eastside Lawn and Irrigation utilizes the professional labs of Clemson University to get the most accurate analysis of the homeowners lawn needs.

• The results of a soil test will answer very important questions:

1. What nutrients are deficient in my soil ?

2. What types of fertilizer should be applied to my lawn?

3. How much fertilizer should be applied to my lawn?

4. How often should my lawn be fertilized?

With the answers to these questions, our team is able to perfectly match a fertilizer plan to your specific lawn for best results.

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Prepping Your Lawn for the Fall

9/19/2022

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When Fall arrives, many homeowners are under the impression that their lawn has no need for attention until springtime brings back the growth of grass and unwanted weeds.

However, one of the most important aspects of maintaining a nice lawn are the efforts made in the Fall that rejuvenate and strengthen the existing grass. These efforts differ according to the type of grass in your lawn. Fescue (cool weather) lawns are benefitted by aeration, reseeding, heavy watering, and a regular program of winter fertilization.

The warm weather grasses, however, (Bremuda, Zoysia, and Centipede grass) benefit hugely from your efforts given to prevent weeds from taking over, competing for sunlight, soil moisture, and plant nutrients.

One of the most important aspects of maintaining a nice lawn are the efforts made in the Fall that rejuvenate and strengthen the existing grass.

To prevent these weeds from ever germinating, homeowners need to get the help of a landscaper who can get the pre-emergent into the ground in the early Fall and follow up with another application of pre-emergent around December 1. Of course, all of this should be carefully coordinated with your plans for aeration and reseeding.

The second application addresses late germinators, and maintains a weed-free lawn for Spring. It is helpful to water at least a half inch after the pre-emergent is applied. When winter annual weeds that come from seed (such as crabgrass, chickweed, wild onion or wild garlic) aren't addressed by pre-emergents and do make their appearance, they often need multiple application of selective post-emergence weed killers.

You can look forward to a beautiful lawn in the spring if you are willing to make the investment with your lawn in the dormant months. Eastside Lawn and Irrigation is available to assist you with all of the procedures—aeration, fertilization, and the reseeding of cool weather lawns or applications of pre-emergents on the warm weather lawns. As cool weather takes over, let us know if we can help with any of your lawn needs.

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Time to get rid of leaves without all the hassle

11/1/2012

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Aeration and Overseeding - When do you do it?

8/11/2012

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The fall lawn aeration/overseeding season is just ahead. Fall is the best time to aerate lawns that are planted with cool season grasses – like the many varieties of Fescue grasses. (Warm weather lawns like Zoysia, Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Centipede, are actually improved when they are aerated in the spring.)

The most effective time to do the aerating and reseeding of your Fescue lawn is between the first of September and the last week of October. Is there a reason that the timing for this process is so critical? Yes. It takes time for the soil to be loosened up with the aeration, and then seeded, fertilized, and thoroughly watered so that the seed will germinate before the first sign of frost. But sometimes people wonder if it is worth the money to have the aeration process done on their lawns. Aeration and overseeding is the best way to loosen overly compacted soil, reduce thatch, and fill in any bare spots. An aeration treatment removes small cores of soil and thatch to allow moisture, air, and nutrients to penetrate down to the roots. The cores plugs that are brought to the surface contain microorganisms. These microorganisms promote the breakdown of the woody thatch that is just below the lawn's surface. When the thatch layer is broken down it is converted into organic matter and all that is combined with soil particles to enrich the over-all soil content.

The most effective time to do the aerating and reseeding of your lawn is between the first of September and the last week of October.

Eastside Lawn and Irrigation of Greenville, SC, uses only the best varieties of seed for the overseeding process. We have done hundreds of aeration/ reseeding projects over the past twenty years and have developed some unique techniques in the process. For example, we have equipment that will lightly rake the dirt after the aeration to insure that the seed is covered. That increases the germination success rate. When overseeding a Fescue lawn we use the best Pennington blends.

Our soil tests, taken before we begin the aeration, help us to determine any chemical imbalances in the soil and we eliminate those deficiencies. Our staff takes the time to inform the homeowner of the needs of his lawn and ways that he can best to care for his lawn during the fall and winter months. Contact us for a free, convenient email estimate, or let us know if we can help with any of your needs.

NEXT WEEK: How to care for your lawn after you aerate.

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5 Ways Landscaping Can Increase the Value of Your Home.

Why Would Core Aeration Benefit My Lawn?

Winter: Prime Time to Think About Your Irrigation

What To Do When Fall...Fell?

Fertilizing Your Lawn

The wrong type of fertilizer or too much of the right type can be more harmful than beneficial to a lawn.

Prepping Your Lawn for the Fall

Time to get rid of leaves without all the hassle

Aeration and Overseeding - When do you do it?

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