How much water does my lawn need?
Your lawn needs about one inch of water per week. Sandy soils need more water while rich organic soils generally need less. Evaporation, heat, length of grass blade, shade, and wind all affect your lawn's watering needs.

What time of day should I water?
If possible, water very early in the morning so that the grass blades dry off by nightfall. Grass blades left wet overnight are susceptible to fungus diseases.

Why Fertilize?

Fertilizing regularly will keep your lawn healthy, green, and weed free. Over time, fertilizer will thicken your lawn enough where weeds won't grow. Typically, you want to fertilize 4-6 times a year. Use a preemergent in the early spring. For late spring, use a fertilizer with weed killers, then repeat the process. In the summer, use fertilizer with insect killers. In mid to late summer use straight fertilizer. Directions vary according to brand name, so read the label. For best results, use a licensed pro. By the way, granular fertilizer works as good as sprays! Do not fertilize on windy days or on newly installed sod and seed!

What type of fertilizer is best for my lawn, and when do I fertilize?

It is suggested that you get your soil tested every two to three years to help you monitor the levels of the three nutrients in fertilizer. These nutrients are expressed as numbers on most fertilizer bags. The nutrients are nitrogen (first number), phosphorus (middle number), and potassium (third number).
Nitrogen - most important, provides "green up" growth in your lawn.
Phosphorus - root development, flower, and fruit development.
Potassium - builds up summer and winter hardiness.

When should I prune and fertilize my azaleas?

Prune azaleas after they bloom. Try to prune plants selectively. Don't attack them with hedgers. Fertilize after the blooming cycle with high-nitrogen fertilizer to promote thick regrowth this spring. Later in the spring you should repeat this application. When early fall comes along, we want to feed our azaleas with azalea/camellia/gardenia fertilizer, so we encourage and promote flower bud set before cold weather arrives. Make sure to water all fertilized areas immediately after application. Provide a 2-3 inch layer of mulch year round for all of your azaleas.

What are the benefits of aeration?

Aeration will improve water penetration into the soil, create a deep root system, and loosen compacted soil. Typically an aerator will remove small plugs of dirt and redeposit them on the ground. Some aerators have simple spikes, and so on. Aerating is beneficial for compacted soil, drought stricken areas, walking paths, etc. For most yards, aeration is needed every 2-3 years.

What about lawn diseases?

There are hundreds of diseases that can effect your lawn, for best results, contact cardinal landscapes. The most common disease is brown patch in the south. It appears in the summer and is created by drought. The best way to deal with this is through prevention. If your lawn is in the early stages of brown patch, then you need to immediately water. Watering can reverse the process in its early stages.