Spring Cleanup- Every spring we visit our properties to clean up any sticks, leaves, or debris left over from the previous winter and fall. Dead grass called “thatch” is removed to prevent suffocation and promote growth of the turf. Heavy stick areas are raked by hand to ensure a thorough cleanup of that area. To ensure removal of leaves in hard to reach corners we use back-pack blowers to blow the leaves onto the turf. From there, our mowers use heavy duty collection systems to collect all thatch, leaves, and debris that are later disposed of.

Sand left from the winter is very unhealthy for new turf growth, and it is also unappealing. Therefore during a spring cleanup power brooms are used to sweep any sand from the turf onto a pavement area.  A truck sweeper then removes any sand.

Blade Edging – During the early part of spring, a blade edger is brought in to define the line between the turf and the cement. The blade digs down two inches into the ground to leave a crisp, clean looking edge. This is possible because on cement sidewalks there will be a 90 degree angle or a vertical edge which accommodates the edging machine. The edge is then maintained throughout the year by use of a line trimmer to cut grass hanging onto the walkways. When the line between the dirt and the cement becomes invisible, the blade edger is brought back in to define the edge once more.

Bed Edging - Spring time is a time to give ornamental beds a fresh new edge. To define the edge on a small bed, a typical flat head shovel is used to refresh the pre-existing edge. For new or large beds, we bring in a piece of equipment that has a rotating metal block which cuts a new, deep edge. This new edge definition will help mulch or rocks stay inside the bed during heavy periods of rain. When your property’s beds and tree rings are properly edged, the site becomes much more visually appealing.

Mulch - We also offer mulching services. Springtime is the best time to freshen up existing mulch, or for a new ornamental bed installation. All mulch is spread using a pitchfork and wheel barrel. This approach leaves a smoother, hands-on, end result.

Turf Maintenance – Upon arrival at a work site, once a week during the mowing season, lawn mowers are set at a desired deck height to promote future health and growth of the turf. If the grass is thick upon arrival and does not meet our expectations after the first cut, we then do what we call a “double cut.” Double cutting consists of going over the cut grass once again in the opposite direction. What this does is redistributes the clippings throughout the turf evenly leaving a smooth, clean looking, final product. In order to keep up with the growth of the grass we maintain all of our properties once a week, and every week the direction of our cut is changed. We change the direction of the cut every week to reduce any chances of uneven wear of the turf.

Towards the end of the season some properties may start to “burn.” This is when grass is not watered enough to keep up with the hot summer sun. If this occurs our skilled employees will “spot mow.” Spot mowing consists of only mowing shady or moist areas that have healthy grass that is not in danger of burning. Furthermore, areas that look burnt may need to be skipped to help keep moisture and prevent any future burning.

Line Trimming – All turf that the mowers cannot maintain is evened out using line trimmers to replace the same cutting height. Throughout the mowing season some line trimming heights may vary. Therefore our employees “spot trim” where needed to maintain an even height with the mowers. On asphalt sidewalks, curbs, and driveways the edges are tapered and therefore must be line trimmed to define the edge instead of using a blade edger.

Final Blow Off – After every turf area has been maintained, there may be grass clippings in mulch beds, sidewalks, roads, decks, patios, hatchways etc. Before we leave any property, all grass clippings that are found in these areas are thoroughly cleaned with forced air to maintain a neat appearance.

Shrub Pruning – Shrubs are trimmed once a year during late spring to early summer to keep a shapely appearance. To promote healthy new growth, dead wood and trunk sprouts are pruned. Low lying branches over sidewalks are cut to keep areas safe and manageable for traffic flow.

Weed Control- Weeds by definition are any undesired, uncultivated, or harmful kind of plant-life. Weeds and vines are a constant nuisance in ornamental shrub beds. To ensure that shrubs are able to absorb appropriate amounts of nutrients and water, potential suffocating vines must be removed by hand. Unsightly weeds will sprout in pavement cracks and curb lines. With the use of a line trimmer or a weed control application, we can make any unsightly weeds disappear. Weeds will be kept under control every visit during turf maintenance.

Brush Cutting- Once a year it is good to cut down all the unwanted overgrowth and brush growing on the borders of your property. It helps keep unwanted plant and animal life where it belongs; in the woods and not in your backyard. This also gives you the option of planting grass and ornamental shrubs where all the brush used to be. That will give the borders of your property a more groomed appearance, and still be leaving a natural feel.

Fall Cleanup - Every fall after a substantial amount of leaves have fallen from trees we will then perform what we call a fall cleanup. This consists of blowing all the leaves from beds and around trees onto the turf where it is then bagged by our heavy duty collection systems that are attached to our mowers. For bigger areas we use forced air to blow leaves to a curb where a neat line is formed for our leaf collection truck to pick up. We will have to make several trips to the same property to ensure a thorough cleanup to prevent any mess in the upcoming spring. We accomplish this before the first snowfall.