When your lawn is enduring a drought such as the one that we are in the middle of here in Columbia South Carolina, there are several things to keep in mind. Primarily, know that your lawn is in a "dormant" state and is not dead. Your grass may look like straw, become wilted and yellow, and generally look like it is not thriving.
Don't worry! Just keep watering it at the frequency you normally water, fertilizing at the normal lawn fertilization frequency, and cutting at the same times. The difference in cutting, though, should be that you cut your lawn at a higher level. Cutting your grass at a higher level helps to retain water and shade the lawn to protect against the drought.
Contrary to what you might think, fertilizing your lawn during a drought is actually good for the lawn - it helps it recover once the drought is over!
For this and more lawn care and lawn mowing tips, please visit Busy Bee Lawn Care on the web at www.BusyBeeLawnCare.com
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Pine Straw or Pinestraw - How do you spell Cheap?!
Pine Straw Mulch is one of the cheaper ways to really dress up a landscape here in the South. Pinestraw comes in longleaf, loblolly, slash pine, and short leaf - but my favorite is the long leaf or slash pine, both of which are long (8" to 10" in length) with an "amber" color to them.
There are several benefits to using pine straw and certain circumstances in which using pinestraw would be of benefit to the landscaping situation. Horticulturally speaking, pine straw is a good mulch or "bed dressing" for acid loving plants (azaleas, hydrangeas, etc). It keeps moisture intact, especially through dry seasons and it also keeps weeds to a minimum.
I like to install or "spread" new pinestraw in about February, taking up some or all of the old pine straw which, at that point in the year has bush clippings and various other types of debris mixed in (which is unsightly). After about October, I like to "fluff" the pinestraw with a pitchfork and turn it over to reveal non-weathered mulch. This gives the effect of new pinestraw without the cost of new materials.
If you have any questions about this type of ground cover, mulch, gravel rock crush and run, or any other landscaping question, please don't hesitate to call Busy Bee Lawn Care!
Busy Bee Lawn Care - (803)331-5323
There are several benefits to using pine straw and certain circumstances in which using pinestraw would be of benefit to the landscaping situation. Horticulturally speaking, pine straw is a good mulch or "bed dressing" for acid loving plants (azaleas, hydrangeas, etc). It keeps moisture intact, especially through dry seasons and it also keeps weeds to a minimum.
I like to install or "spread" new pinestraw in about February, taking up some or all of the old pine straw which, at that point in the year has bush clippings and various other types of debris mixed in (which is unsightly). After about October, I like to "fluff" the pinestraw with a pitchfork and turn it over to reveal non-weathered mulch. This gives the effect of new pinestraw without the cost of new materials.
If you have any questions about this type of ground cover, mulch, gravel rock crush and run, or any other landscaping question, please don't hesitate to call Busy Bee Lawn Care!
Busy Bee Lawn Care - (803)331-5323
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Spring is coming! Have you got a lawn care service?
Spring is coming! Have you got a lawn care service?
I am currently taking on new lawn care and grounds keeping customers as spring is in the air and folks are starting to think about the work that spring brings with it. Below are a few points of interest pertaining to my level of lawn care service here in Columbia, South Carolina. The "blanks" are negociable, please contact me at 331-LEAF for your estimate.
Here's the breakdown:
Busy Bee Lawn Care, LLC is a full service lawn care provider. I hold official business licensure in compliance with local law and am an officially licensed pesticide applicator (herbicide). I maintain liability insurance, and I use the best equipment on the market to do the best job in the quickest time possible.
The minimum fee is $50 for the basic lawn care service during the green season unless otherwise arranged. A recurring "basic lawn servicing" is defined as: Mowing the lawn, Edging the lawn, weed eating the edges of the lawn, and blowing away the debris that I create in the process.
The cost of the basic lawn care service for your grounds is $_____ per visit. This year’s service on your property will commence on the _____ day of _______, 20____ unless otherwise requested (please contact me otherwise)
Billing – You will be billed by mail on a monthly basis for the services previously rendered in that month. Invoices are mailed at the end of the month and payment is appreciated before the 5th.
Grass Cutting Defined – Your grass will be cut to the most appropriate height every ______ weeks. At times, it will be bagged, and at times it will be mulched (whichever is best for the situation). Either method will be exercised at the request of the customer if so desired.
Herbiciding weeds in areas where they are inappropriate at the appropriate time (as I determine) is included in the cost of the servicing. The cost of the herbicide is included in the cost of the basic lawn servicing. Please be aware that to enjoy the benefits of herbicide, a risk in losing adjacent plants exists, albeit a minimal risk. Customer hereby assumes that risk as their own.
Fertilizer application will be recommended throughout the year. If you elect to do fertilizing, the cost of the fertilizer used will be added to the basic lawn care service fee for the month in which it was applied.
Bagging, hauling away of debris and disposal fees would incur a surcharge and are not included in the basic servicing (although leaving un-bagged debris on the curb IS included in the basic service). Bagging (to leave on the curb) will incur a surcharge depending upon the amount of debris.
Fall leaf/pine straw cleanup - Each year after October the 15th, our agreement switches to an hourly rate of $____/hour for my service (one man). For each helper I employ on that day’s service, there will be an additional $____/hour expense incurred (ex: me and 1 helper = $____/hour). You can elect to use our service as much or as little as you wish and to the extent and frequency of your need. The average fall cleanup takes anywhere from 1 to 3 hours total depending upon the amount of debris (this is not a guarantee of the time that will be spent on your property).
Hedge trimming, miscellaneous grounds keeping, pressure washing and other requested services’ costs are based upon the hourly rate. Roof clearing by estimate. Tree removal service is offered by referral.
Rain Delay – If it rains or is too wet on the day that your grounds are to be serviced, know that your needs are regarded as important and will be taken care of you as soon as possible. In anticipation of rain, your grounds may be serviced a day or two early.
Thank you for your business!
I am currently taking on new lawn care and grounds keeping customers as spring is in the air and folks are starting to think about the work that spring brings with it. Below are a few points of interest pertaining to my level of lawn care service here in Columbia, South Carolina. The "blanks" are negociable, please contact me at 331-LEAF for your estimate.
Here's the breakdown:
Busy Bee Lawn Care, LLC is a full service lawn care provider. I hold official business licensure in compliance with local law and am an officially licensed pesticide applicator (herbicide). I maintain liability insurance, and I use the best equipment on the market to do the best job in the quickest time possible.
The minimum fee is $50 for the basic lawn care service during the green season unless otherwise arranged. A recurring "basic lawn servicing" is defined as: Mowing the lawn, Edging the lawn, weed eating the edges of the lawn, and blowing away the debris that I create in the process.
The cost of the basic lawn care service for your grounds is $_____ per visit. This year’s service on your property will commence on the _____ day of _______, 20____ unless otherwise requested (please contact me otherwise)
Billing – You will be billed by mail on a monthly basis for the services previously rendered in that month. Invoices are mailed at the end of the month and payment is appreciated before the 5th.
Grass Cutting Defined – Your grass will be cut to the most appropriate height every ______ weeks. At times, it will be bagged, and at times it will be mulched (whichever is best for the situation). Either method will be exercised at the request of the customer if so desired.
Herbiciding weeds in areas where they are inappropriate at the appropriate time (as I determine) is included in the cost of the servicing. The cost of the herbicide is included in the cost of the basic lawn servicing. Please be aware that to enjoy the benefits of herbicide, a risk in losing adjacent plants exists, albeit a minimal risk. Customer hereby assumes that risk as their own.
Fertilizer application will be recommended throughout the year. If you elect to do fertilizing, the cost of the fertilizer used will be added to the basic lawn care service fee for the month in which it was applied.
Bagging, hauling away of debris and disposal fees would incur a surcharge and are not included in the basic servicing (although leaving un-bagged debris on the curb IS included in the basic service). Bagging (to leave on the curb) will incur a surcharge depending upon the amount of debris.
Fall leaf/pine straw cleanup - Each year after October the 15th, our agreement switches to an hourly rate of $____/hour for my service (one man). For each helper I employ on that day’s service, there will be an additional $____/hour expense incurred (ex: me and 1 helper = $____/hour). You can elect to use our service as much or as little as you wish and to the extent and frequency of your need. The average fall cleanup takes anywhere from 1 to 3 hours total depending upon the amount of debris (this is not a guarantee of the time that will be spent on your property).
Hedge trimming, miscellaneous grounds keeping, pressure washing and other requested services’ costs are based upon the hourly rate. Roof clearing by estimate. Tree removal service is offered by referral.
Rain Delay – If it rains or is too wet on the day that your grounds are to be serviced, know that your needs are regarded as important and will be taken care of you as soon as possible. In anticipation of rain, your grounds may be serviced a day or two early.
Thank you for your business!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
