Author: Shelley Iverson

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Landscape Projects

Landscaping – A Beginners Guide to Curb Appeal

Landscaping

 

When it comes to outside of your house, curb appeal is what you should strive for and you can accomplish that with landscaping. You have a variety of options when it comes to landscaping. Keep it simple by mowing, planting bushes and flowers, or a combination of these. Larger projects like paver patios and curb edging add beautiful focal points. Whatever you chose, when it comes to landscaping, know that it will make a wonderful addition to the curb appeal to your home.   

At A+Lawn Care, we offer a variety of lawn care services for all budgets. If you would like assistance with ideas and planning, we are happy to share our expertise.  Whether you work with us or do it yourself, your landscaping should make a great first impression. 

Lawn Care 

We offer both residential and commercial services.  This includes mowing, removal of weeds, dethatching, aeration, general maintenance of the garden, trees, grass, and other landscape.   

Mowing might seem simple but takes time and effort. Our staff at recognizes warning signs of potential damage to your lawn due to improper mowing, pests, and diseases. We monitor your lawn on a regular basis to address any changes.   

Weeding is a process where unwanted plants are removed. Regular weeding can help to increase soil fertility and sunlight penetration to the plant. Weeding also helps to prevent pests.   

Aeration is essential to a healthy lawn because it allows air and water to penetrate deep within to grow deeper and produce a stronger, healthier lawn. Aeration involves making a hole in the soil, approximately 2-4 inches deep, to allow air, water, and nutrients to circulate and penetrate the grassroots.  

Overseeing thickens the turf and helps to prevent weeds from sprouting. Your lawn needs to be examined to determine why the turf has deteriorated. A+ Lawn Care staff can help to identify and fix the problems before overseeing.  

Dethatching is the process of removing the thick layer of thatch. The thick layer of thatch does not allow the nutrients and water to reach the soil.  You should dethatch your lawn at least once every few years when the lawn is growing. 

Accents 

Landscape Edging creates clear borders between your lawn, flower beds, trees, or surrounding garden. It prevents the grass from getting into these garden areas.  A+ Lawn Care staff will examine your landscape and offer you options to compliment your landscape and home. 

Pavers turn an average space into a beautiful focal point and coordinate with landscape edging for a complete, low-maintenance look.   

Spring and fall are great times to clean up your property after a long winter or fallen leaves.  Make sure you are cleaning up the leaves and other debris, as the lawn might trap the moisture needed for the grass to grow thus making the grass weak. 

Whether you need one or all of these landscaping services, A+ Lawn Care can help you out.  Contact us today to schedule.   

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Lawn Care

Circles In Your Lawn?

Lawn care services

 

Often referred to as fairy circles or fairy rings, they come from trees decaying underground. 

 What causes circles in your lawn? 

Fairy rings are caused by many different soil inhabiting fungi of the class Basidomycetes. These fungi can cause the development of rings or arcs of deep green grass against the color of your regular grass as well as on thrifty or dead grass growing in a circle. The mushrooms that appear after the rain falls are the fruiting bodies of the fungus. Fairy rings are most common on sandy soil’s that are low in water and fertility. Thick latch layers are usually present. 

 

How do I get rid of fairy rings in my lawn? 

A proven solution is aeration of compacted soils. Alternative methods include to removing excess thatch, keeping your lawn well-watered, and encouraging a beneficial soil by top dressing with a hummus builder such as aged manure or finished compost. There is no natural control to this disease, it is very hard to eradicate due to its origins. 

 

Are fairy rings dangerous? 

Fairy rings do not pose an immediate threat to the remainder of your lawn or anyone using it, however, it is a good idea to rinse mower blades to reduce potential spread. Once the organic matter in the soil feeding the fungi is decomposed, the ring will disappear as well. If time is not the solution you’re looking for, we can apply treatments annually to reduce or eliminate the problem. 

 

While fairy rings are unsightly to a landowner, they are rumored to be linked with good fortune. Many people choose to make a fairy ring into a fairy garden on their lawn. They bring in boulders and tiny succulents as well as ivy and flowers. Many gnomes inhabit fairy rings in lawns across the Midwest. It’s said when mushrooms appear, the fortune is best.  

 

At A+ Lawncare, we do aeration and dethatching.  Call us to come and inspect if you think you may have a fairy ring in your lawn. They must be dealt with on an annual basis, unless you turn the area into a fairy garden, or plant another tree there. 

 

  

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Lawn Care

Aerate Your Lawn with A+Lawn Care

lush beautiful lawn

aerating the lawn with a machine aerator

One of the best things you can do for your lawn is aerate. 

Spring is the perfect time to aerate your lawn. Aeration relieves soil compaction, which squeezes the life out of your lawn. Soil compaction occurs because of gravity, lawn equipment, and foot traffic. Aeration loosens the soil to let nutrients reach the roots. Aeration helps the roots grow deeper under your topsoil and allows air, nutrients, and water to circulate and penetrate the grassroots growing there. It will produce a stronger, thicker, more lush, and healthier lawn. What a great way to create curb appeal and maintain and even increase your property value. 

How do I know if my lawn needs aeration? If you cannot drive a 6-inch screwdriver into your lawn easily, the soil is heavily compacted. If you drive a lawn tractor over your lawn or you have lots of foot traffic on your lawn it is very likely that your soil is compacted. Soil compaction factors can also depend on the under topsoil that you have. If you have loamy topsoil with dark color full of organic matter that drains well, you may not need to aerate every year but if you have a clay subsoil that is lighter in color and high in clay content, this will drain poorly and you will need to aerate more often. In the Midwest, most soils are a combination of silt, loam, and clay but the dominant material in various areas of Wisconsin can be seen on this map. 

Aeration allows air and water to penetrate lawn thatch and topsoil creating a healthier, more resilient turf. Traditional aerators pull core plugs and discard them on the surface of the lawn. Manual aerators are quick and easy to use on smaller areas of land if you don’t mind the plugs remaining behind. The plugs will eventually rejoin the soil as they were before aeration but this will take some time. For more desired results, we recommend using our heavy-duty vibrating tine aerator which produces microfractures in your lawn. The microfractures allow dirt to reach the seed better for more contact with the surface area and it is far more efficient and effective on your seed usage and overseeing. This method optimizes the oxygen exchange and benefits your water and fertilizing programs. The best benefit? It does not leave plugs all over your yard! You will receive more benefits and less hassle. Better overall results are produced through this proven approach as well. Our customers are simply happy with the way their yards look after we have aerated. 

 Contact A+Lawncare this spring for more information about aeration. We are happy to discuss the benefits it will bring to your lawn, how our microfracture method works, and answer any other questions you have.  You can trust us as your local landscaping experts. We look forward to assisting you in maintaining a healthy lawn. 

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Pavers

Why Choose Pavers | Lawn Care Madison

Choose Pavers

There are several reasons to choose pavers when designing landscape projects. There are unlimited design options as pavers are customizable. The colors are varying, and you can choose which ones you use to match your decor. Pavers require lower maintenance than concrete or other landscaping materials. Repairs are easy. If one paver breaks, you remove that single paver. If your concrete cracks, it is your whole slab that is ruined.

Pavers Cost Less Than Concrete:

Pavers are visually appealing and have higher resale value. They are not often affected by outside temperature and do not become slippery when wet. They do not stain over time, as they are already a single color. Pavers are easier to install and cost less than concrete. Check out this review at fixr.com: https://www.fixr.com/comparisons/pavers-vs-concrete.

Pavers are durable and resistant to cracking. Pavers are also highly customizable. They make more design options for your home including plenty of colors, sizes, and patterns to choose from.

Pavers Bring The WOW to Your Curb Appeal:

Paver driveways bring that wow factor to your curb appeal! At A+ LawnCare, we can install a paver driveway easily. We renovate pavers as well. If you are concerned about getting the job done right, you will want to schedule with us, as we install pavers in patios, walkways, driveways, and firepits, columns, and buildings.

Paver walkways are just as easy. Pavers and natural stone flagstones can create beautiful and tranquil walking paths and garden borders. There are a variety of colors available for you to choose from, and the possibilities are endless. We are able to match your color scheme and can integrate cohesively with any outdoor space. Paver walkways are not only functional, but they bring character to your landscape. You create visual interest in your yard from your front entry and weave a path through your garden, around a terrace, or straight to the backyard. Your entry walkway is one of the first things people see when they visit your home and pavers provide the opportunity to increase the landscaping and value of your home. Curb appeal cannot be underrated. The value of your home goes up exponentially with better curb appeal. It is one of the few projects you can undertake to recoup more than face value.

A+LawnCare professionally installs pavers. We can help you design a beautiful look for your project and we have the experience to get the job done right. Our paver installations look great, last forever, and are easy to maintain. Give us a call today and we can schedule your spring project.

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Lawn Care

Watering Weekly Works | Lawn Care Madison

Watering

 

sprinkler on lawn

The new advice:  Water your lawn weekly, about an inch, and adjust as rain and precipitation occur in your area. This generalization applies to well-established lawns, not newly sodded grasses. You know your lawn best as you may have a specific variety of grass other than Kentucky Bluegrass, which is what is most common. 

Maybe it is your water bill that you are concerned with reducing, or maybe you have just heard it is a good idea to water less frequently. Either way, your pocketbook will thank you for using less water on your lawn. You only need to water once a week and give a good saturation to your lawn. 

According to the City of Sun Prairie, watering once a week is good for storm utilities as well. Here is a link to the flyer with other suggestions for a naturally healthy lawn.    

Watering once a week is good for your lawn’s root system. 

Watering too frequently can cause a shallow root system that is not good for your lawn. If you water too lightly, the roots will not grow deeply enough, which will set up your lawn for trouble when drought or hot weather comes. Remember to check with your local ordinances to verify watering restrictions, if any.   

Water in the early morning for a good soaking. 

While overwatering or underwatering presents challenges, watering during the wrong part of the day creates several issues as well. During the hottest part of the day in the first few hours of the afternoon, water evaporates quickly and moist soil can warm up to a high temperature, damaging the roots. The best time of day to water a lawn is in the early morning before 10 am. This is the coldest part of the day and water will get a chance to soak deep. If you must water in the evening, try between 4 and 6 p.m. which should give the grass blades time enough to dry thoroughly before nightfall. The later you water, the greater chance of disease becoming present in your lawn, which you do not want.  

How do I know how much water my lawn is getting? 

Set out empty tuna cans to see if your lawn is getting a good soaking of an inch or not.  Usually, tuna cans are about an inch, so when they are full, your lawn should be soaked. Another way to determine if your lawn is getting a good soaking is to drive the head of a six-inch screwdriver into it. If the screwdriver easily permeates your lawn, it is had a good soaking. 

If you have lawn care questions or want to establish a mowing routine, call A+ LawnCare for your lawn care needs. 

Categories
curb edging

Five Reasons to Choose Concrete Edging from A+ Lawn Care

Professional Concrete Edging

concrete edging

There are many projects you can choose from to beautify and upgrade your yard and you probably already have a few on your to-do list. One of our favorite upgrades is using concrete edging to spruce up your space. You will enjoy all the following benefits when you beautify your landscape with a curb edging project from A+ Lawn care. 

  1. It is affordable. There is value in investing in a permanent solution to your landscape edging. Our free-formed concrete edging is unique. It is reinforced. Concrete edging is more durable than the other forms of edging, especially the plastic edging that you buy at landscape stores. It is low maintenance and affordable. Year after year you will enjoy this permanent upgrade without any additional effort or expense. 
  1. It is customizable. Our concrete curb edging is completely customizable. On the day of your project, we lay out the curves, turns, and contours in your landscaping that will enhance everything. We have a wide range of concrete colors to choose from. We hand mix the color of your choice to ensure a beautiful result. In addition to color customization, we offer different texture options as well. Completion times for landscape edging projects vary depending on the scope but many take us half a day to a day to complete. Custom installation can be done at your residence or business.  
  1. It is distinctive. When you add curb edging there is reduced maintenance when mowing and maintaining your lawn and landscape. Rock and mulch stay in place and your landscaping is clean and elegant. This is especially important when selling your property. Potential buyers will love the idea of beautiful edging that requires no maintenance or additional investment year after year. 
  1. It is durable. Concrete does not rust, will not rot, and it maintains its shape and design year after year. We customize and match your existing landscape to maintain a beautiful lasting look. 
  1. It is attractive. Concrete curb edging is decorative and creates a unique focal point for your yard or business. It separates areas within your landscape creating a feeling of larger space and visually pleasing organization whereas plastic edging only separates growth which often exceeds its boundaries in a short time. 

Concrete curb edging is an exceptional accent to any yard, large or small. Concrete curb edging will make your yard a showcase. If it is going into a business, it can enhance your entryway and give visual appeal. It can also be used for flowerbeds, rock beds, home borders, custom islands, flower gardens, pathways, tree rings, and many more. Play areas are defined using curb edging. The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to concrete curb edging. Looking for inspiration? Consider perusing our photo album on Facebook for ideas and completed projects or contact us and we will help you select a custom look that will accent your yard for years to come. 

 

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Uncategorized

Lawn Care in Sun Prairie – A+ Lawn care

Lawn care in Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie residents deserve a lush, green lawn. 

For the most part, grass is easy to grow. It is not so easy to maintain. It is imperative that if you own your home, you look at your lawn as your biggest and greatest asset.  A lush green lawn and good landscaping can add many dollars to the value of your home. Better Homes and Gardens suggests you can put 5-10% of your home value in a landscaping project and recoup the value immediately.  In any project, there will be a lawn to mow. Below we debunk three common myths and replace them with truths regarding lawn care in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  

Mowing Truths 

Mow at the correct height. 

It is a myth that you can mow your lawn at any height.  The fact is a longer grass blade is healthier.  Some homeowners feel they can mow their lawn at any height. This is not the case. You must mow your lawn at the correct height and keep it consistently mowed at that height. Mowing a lawn too short will expose the roots and dry out your lawn faster. 

Your lawn will best maintain its health by trimming a half-inch or less each time. The correct time to mow your lawn is when it reaches about 3.25 inches and mow down to about 2.75 inches. Attempt to mow close to that height and keep it as consistent as possible. Each lawn can vary, but choose to use a higher setting on your lawnmower over a lower setting. You only want to remove the top portion of your grass each time that you mow.  

Keep your lawnmower blades sharp.  

Some homeowners do not see the importance of sharp blades. Like cutting hair with a dull blade, you can ruin the strand and each individual strand of grass. A dull cut will expose the lawn and leave the lawn looking brown as each strand frays at the edge. You will wreak havoc on your yard if you do not sharpen your lawnmower blades regularly. A sharp blade will cut well; cleanly slice the grass, minimizing any damage. 

Mow when your lawn is dry.  

Mowing wet grass can cause many ill effects. It dulls your lawnmower blades quicker.  

Wet or damp grass can clump and rot leaving an unsightly mess. Wet grass discarded by the mower is not good for your lawn and may invite disease and pests. If you must mow when wet or damp, use a leaf blower to remove the clumps and clippings or bag your wet clippings. 

Call us for expert lawn care in Sun Prairie

Finally, if you live in Sun Prairie and are looking for expert lawn care, look no further.  A+ Lawn Care is here to meet your needs.  We believe that everyone who lives in Sun Prairie deserves a lush green lawn and we can help make that a reality with specialized professional services. We have packages for every budget. Give us a call today! 

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Uncategorized

Curb Edging in the Winter? Dream big!

curb edging with bushes

 

What does winter offer you? Time.

In the dead of winter, do you think about your lawn?  Sometimes, when all we have is time, we like to daydream. Pinterest.com is the perfect place to get inspiration. Are you daydreaming about the things you would like to see done to your landscape and lawn this spring?  There is no time like the present to move on any project you are dreaming up. 

Time to plan 

If you are thinking about a spring landscape project such as curb edging, the time to think about it is now. In the middle of winter, we have nothing but time. The middle of winter is the best time to start planning. We can give you ideas, or you can search the internet. Either way, you’ll have plenty of time to decide what you want. 

Time to schedule 

The best thing about thinking about a spring project and getting on the calendar is that you get the project done early. Calendars fill up very quickly and you will want to be sure that you are on the calendar of the company that you would like to hire for your Spring project. If you are planning a spring project like curb edging, you will want to call and schedule ahead, leaving plenty of time as calendars fill up surprisingly quickly.  

More time to enjoy 

When you take time to plan and get on the calendar in the wintertime, your job will be done early in the spring. That will give you more time in the summer to enjoy your project. In Wisconsin, summer is fleeting, and you do not realize how much difference a week or two can make. When you schedule your spring project in the winter, to be completed in early spring, you are buying yourself an additional week or two of enjoying your new landscaping project. 

Time to tell others 

If you are happy with the work provided, service companies love referrals. It is the perfect time to tell someone else about the great work that you had completed. Share your landscape project on Facebook or on Instagram. Everyone loves learning about projects you have completed, especially when you are happy with the work and would recommend the contractor. 

A+ Lawncare does curb edging. We do curb edging well! If you would like to speak with someone at A+ Lawncare about the project you have dreamed up for your lawn, please call us today.  We will be happy to talk about the dreams you have for your lawn.

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Uncategorized

Professional Snow Removal for Homeowners Associations

Professional Snow Removal Services

Snow. It is inevitable in our part of the country. Some people love snow, and some people hate it, but one thing remains the same, it must be dealt with. According to Current Results, snowfall in Madison can exceed 10 inches per month during the winter. Snow events can be minimal with accumulations of an inch or two, but it is not uncommon to see 3 to 6 inches or more on occasion. Homeowners often struggle with the decision to hire a snow removal service, but homeowners’ associations have that wrapped up. They stick a nice bow on the snow removal process and hire us, professional snow removers.

 

Homeowners associations are groups of homes that are in neighborhoods together, or share the same building, or are constructed in the same period and area. Sometimes homeowners and neighborhoods ban together and make homeowners associations in order to deal with the snow and other landscaping issues they face.

 

Snowfall in Madison is a guarantee. Many factors are not as predictable such as timing, amount, and type of snow. Snow can be lighter, heavy, arrive during the day or at night, it can be minimal, or can add deep accumulations. And snow can drift. One thing you can count on is A + lawn care to relieve your snow removal stress when you belong to a homeowner’s association and they choose us to remove their snow. Check out our zero-tolerance packages which get our company out for every single snowfall regardless of accumulation and keep the accumulation from being a problem. Not every snow removal team offers this service. If your association has different needs for snow removal, we would be happy to discuss a personalized plan with you.

 

At this time, we do not do personal property, only commercial property, municipalities, and homeowners associations. Please do not forget about our business services! Everyone knows giant piles of snow that develop over the winter months. It seems no matter how early you arrive at the parking lot, you get the spot right next to the mountain of snow. It is a hike to get out of your car. We make those mountains disappear with our snow removal packages. At A+LawnCare, we do not just push snow, we haul it away as well, depending on your needs. We clear and remove snow buildup to keep your parking lots and customers safe. Give our expert snow removal team a call today to discuss what we can do for your property. Snow has its place on the slopes, but we make sure it is not on your sidewalk!