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MULawnCare.com is an informational website for Columbia,  Missouri lawn care.  MU Lawn Care provides information about landscaping and lawncare for the cities of Columbia, Missouri and the surrounding areas.  All of Boone County is included.  This site will include tips for growing and maintaining a healthy lawn in Columbia, Missouri.  You have come to the right place for Columbia, Missouri Lawn Care.  If you need help finding a good lawn service in Columbia, MO feel free to contact me.

This Site contains various pages filled with information about Lawn Care in Columbia, Missouri. 

This page focuses on Columbia, Missouri lawn care maintenance

Starting a lawn from sod or grass seed

Columbia, Missouri Landscaping

Columbia, Missouri Lawn Fertilizer

Fertilization is a must for a healthy growing lawn in Columbia, Missouri.  A good lawn care company in Columbia, Missouri will put together a fertilizer program that will fit your budget and your lawn.  A healthy lawn uses nutrients to aid growth.  If soil lacks the nutrients and minerals your lawn will suffer.  It is best to use fertilizer as preventive maintenance instead of corrective maintenance.

Lawns in Columbia, Missouri need to be fed with a fertilizer regularly to promote a full healthy lawn.  This will include four to six applications of fertilizer each year.  This will include two spring fertilizer applications, two summer fertilizer applications, ( if weather permits) and two fall fertilizer applications.

The first spring fertilizer application should contain a pre-emergent crabgrass control and be applied when the ground temperature  reaches about 45 degrees.  This is just before the crabgrass will start germinating and the pre-emergent crabgrass control in the fertilizer will prevent crabgrass from overtaking your lawn.  This fertilizer application will typically be applied in March or early April.

The next application of fertilizer in Columbia, Missouri should be in late spring.  This application of fertilizer will continue to feed the lawn with vital minerals and nutrients to keep the lawn growing and healthy for the upcoming summer months. 

The two summer applications of fertilizer should only be applied if the weather in Columbia, Missouri is mild and not too hot.  If the weather is too hot, then the fertilizer will burn the lawn.  For this reason it is best to apply a slow release fertilizer in the summer.  This type of fertilizer will slowly release the nitrogen over time.  The slow release will prevent burning of the lawn and make for a lasting dark green grass.  Apply the summer fertilizers about six to eight weeks apart.  Be sure to water the fertilizers in after application. 

The two fall fertilizer applications are a must for proper lawn care in Columbia, Missouri.  The first fall fertilizer application will come in early fall, and the second fertilizer application will be put down after the grass stops growing.  The second application is more of a winterizer application and will prepare the lawn for quicker green up in the spring. 

Applying Lawn Fertilizer in Columbia, Missouri

There are many ways to apply the fertilizer in Columbia, Missouri.  You can use a hand spreader, a drop spreader or a broadcast spreader.  The broadcast spreader is the fastest way to fertilize.  Be sure to read the instructions on the fertilizer bag before applying.  Only apply the recommended amount of fertilizer to your lawn.  Apply too much fertilizer can damage your lawn, and applying too little fertilizer will deprive your lawn from much needed nutrients.  If you use a broadcast spreader it is best to apply at half rate in one direction and apply the other half perpendicular to the previous direction.  This will prevent heavy and light spots when applying the fertilizer.  If you do not want to fertilize your lawn your self there are a lot of Columbia, Missouri lawn care companies that will professionally fertilize your lawn.

Organic Fertilizer in Columbia, Missouri

Another option for lawn fertilizer in Columbia, Missouri is organic fertilizer.  Now there are many choices with organic fertilizer.  Organic lawn care is the practice of maintaining a lawn without using any synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. 

There is a wide variety of organic fertilizers and organic fertilizer services out there.  Organic fertilizers can stimulate and introduce microbes into the soil.  With proper organic fertilizer applications and practice, overtime your lawn will respond and look better than lawns fertilized with synthetic fertilizers.  Your lawn will be able to correct itself and not need as much fertilizer. 

Columbia, Missouri Lawn Weed Control

Weed control is an element of lawn care that often goes overlooked until lawns are covered in weeds.  Controlling weeds is a year round task in lawn care.  Some weeds such as crabgrass can be controlled with a pre-emergent fertilizer application.  This will keep the weeds from germinating.  Other weeds, such as broadleaf weeds have to have a herbicide applied or be manually pulled from the ground.  Weed control should be a preventive method of lawn care, because once the weeds take over it is very difficult and expensive to establish a healthy, lush turf. 

The most effective method of controlling lawn weeds is to maintain a dense and healthy grass cover.  Weeds are often an indication of problems in the soil and growing environment, and killing the weeds without correcting the underlying problem will lead to reoccurring weed growth. For example, a problem with knotweed is usually an indication of compacted soil.  Control of knotweed without correction of the soil compaction will only lead to sparse soil cover until the area is again invaded by weeds that grow in compacted soil.  Some tips that will favor the grass over the weeds include,  raising (or lowering) the mowing height, changing the frequency of mowing, lengthening (or shortening) the period between irrigations, increasing (or decreasing) the application of fertilizer, or aerating the soil. A combination of proper Columbia, Missouri lawn care practices plus prudent use of chemical is sometimes necessary to control weeds effectively in lawns. Whenever herbicides are used, container labels should always be read and followed carefully.

Columbia, Missouri Lawn Mowing

Lawn mowing is what is done most often.  Lawn mowing may be the most important part of Columbia, Missouri lawn care.  You should be cutting your grass at least once a week.  A strong, healthy lawn in Columbia, Missouri will need to be mowed once a week.  If you do not want to mow your lawn then there are many lawn care companies in Columbia, Missouri that specialize in lawn mowing and will be more than happy to cut and maintain your lawn. 

When cutting your grass remember not to cut your lawn too short.  People think that if they cut their grass short, they will not have to cut it for a while.  This is a myth.  The grass will be damaged and it will grow at the same rate.  Cool season grasses, which grow very well in Columbia, Missouri need to be cut between three and four inches.  Cutting grass at this height will promote a deeper root system, look better and defend weeds. 

Never cut off more than one third of the grass leaf at any one mowing.  For example if the grass is three inches high, don't cut more than one inch off at a time.  If you are unable to mow for an unusual amount of time then cut your grass down in increments, over several mowing spaced out every three days or so.  Never cut off a bunch of grass just to get caught up.  This will leave excess grass clippings all over the lawn and will damage the lawn.

Mulch the grass clippings, do not bag the lawn clippings.  Many people believe that mulching the grass clippings will lead to thatch buildup.  This is false.  Mulching your lawn clippings and allowing them to lay on the lawn will provide nutrients and moisture to your lawn.  The grass blade that is cut contains nutrients and moisture that will help your lawn continue to grow and thrive.  The excess grass will decompose and breakdown in the soil and redistribute nutrients and moisture to the roots, in turn requiring less fertilizer and watering.  If you bag the lawn clippings, then your lawn will require more fertilizer and will expose your soil to the hot Columbia, Missouri sun causing damage to your lawn. 

Mow your lawn in a different direction each time you cut the grass.  Alternating the direction you mow your lawn will prevent ruts from lawn mower wheels and will prevent the grass from developing a set pattern.  By alternating mowing patterns your lawn will grow more erect healthy.  For example if you mow your lawn one direction one week then mow perpendicular to the previous direction the following week. 

Always keep your lawn mower blade sharp.  If you have a professional lawn care service in Columbia, Missouri, make sure that they use sharp lawn mower blades.  Dull lawn mower blades will rip the grass and not give it a clean cut.  Lawns cut with dull blades will have a yellowish tint at the tip of the grass, and some leaves may be shredded.  Sharp blades will leave the grass with a clean even cut. 

Columbia, Missouri Aerating

Lawn aeration is a very important of Columbia, MO lawn care.  Lawn aeration is a practice that involves pulling plugs from the lawn to reduce compaction and increase water and nutrient intake into the root zone of the lawn.  Lawns in Columbia, Missouri take a lot of stress through a hot Missouri summer.  Aeration relieves stress and compaction in the soil.

Benefits of Lawn Aeration:

· Increase the activity of soil microorganisms that decompose thatch

· Increases water, nutrient and oxygen movement within the soil and root zone

· Improves and stimulates root growth

· Prevents fertilizer, pesticide and water run-off from overly compacted soil areas

Typical lawns need aerating at least once every other year.  If your lawn gets lots of use then it is best to aerate every year.  The aeration will reduce soil compaction in heavily used areas and allow roots to grow deep into the soil. 

Some summers in Columbia, Missouri can be brutal.  Lawns will take a beating through some hot summers, no matter how much you water.  The summers in Columbia, Missouri can put enormous amounts of stress on lawns.  One way to relieve this stress will be to aerate your yard after a hot dry summer.  This will allow much needed nutrients and water to penetrate deep into the soil to revive your lawn from the roots up. 

The best time to aerate in Columbia, Missouri is in the fall.  It is best to overseed and apply a fertilizer application just after aeration.  This will allow the new seed and fertilizer to penetrate the holes that the aerator created and germinate in the soil. 

Columbia, Missouri Overseed

Overseeding can be an overlooked aspect of lawn care in Columbia, Missouri.  Many people think that fertilizing is all they need for a healthy lawn.  Overseeding is very important to achieve a healthy weed free lawn.  Eventually grass slows down and reproduces at a slower rate

Leaf Removal in Columbia, Missouri