Our Services
We know that our work is on display every day for everyone to see. This makes us extremely critical about the quality of work that we perform. If you don't look good, then we don't look good. Our goal is to make your lawn beautiful and something you will be proud of.
Services Offered;
Fertilization Programs
Grub and Insect Control
Core Aeration
Over-Seeding
Lime Applications
Soil Testing
Organic Applications
Below you will find valuable information about your lawn and how we make a difference. It also contains information about the services we offer. If you would like to learn more, have any questions, or are interested in any of these services, please contact us!
Fertilization Programs
WE USE SAFE AND APPROVED PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO LABEL DIRECTIONS TO PROTECT THOSE WHOM YOU LOVE.
Knowing what products to use, how much to use and correct timing is just the beginning of a proper fertilizer program. You must also consider the best approach in controlling weeds, insects and disease. Good cultural practices, the right products and proper timing is the beginning of our plan to give you the best lawn that you can have. We purchase quality products because we know they give better results. This makes it worth it. The bottom line is not just in dollars and cents, it is in creating a better lawn.
Our best program places an experienced and licensed lawn professional on your lawn once every 6 weeks through the growing season. Of course, if we are having a hot, dry spell which is typical in Northeast Ohio, this could be reduced or modified. We focus on what your lawn needs. Our goal is to build a healthy lawn through good cultural practice, timely feedings and frequent monitoring, staying proactive to arising problems. This approach will give you the best lawn that you can possibly have.
Our services include crabgrass prevention and control, lawn feeding with quality granular fertilizer, weed control at each visit and other pest management practices, such as surface insect control, as needed as part of an IPM (integrated pest management) program. We also offer free service calls. If you have any concerns about your lawn or feel it needs our attention, you can depend on a free visit to your lawn in a timely manner.
Grub Control
Grubs are the larvae of beetles. They feed on the roots of your grass starting late summer and continues into the fall. Grubs can do a lot of damage to your lawn very fast. Grubs often do much of their damage before you even know there is a problem. By that time, you may realize that you have an entire lawn infested with grubs and a big problem that needs to be handled fast! That treatment can be expensive and the damaged lawn will need repaired. This can be prevented! Ask us about our "Season Long Grub Control". We can prevent the above scenario by applying a season lasting grub control product to your lawn before eggs hatch. We will apply the right product at the right time as a one-time preventative treatment (annually) to prevent damage before it can even occur. We won't allow grubs to damage that beautiful lawn!
Core Aeration
Core aeration is one of the most important things you can have done to your lawn each season. The fall or spring is the best time to aerate your lawn. Aeration pulls cored plugs out of your lawn. This breaks up thatch and loosens compacted soil to create a better environment for your lawn. This process allows air, water and nutrients to more easily reach your grass root systems. This will allow your grass roots to grow deeper and stronger and will produce new and healthy root growth. Your lawn will become thicker and healthier which will help your lawn become stronger against heat, drought and disease. Annual aeration will beneficially change your soil structure and can help improve difficult areas for better lawn establishment.
Over-Seeding
Grass seed can be sown at any time, but there are better times and better practices that can give seed a better chance to germinate and give new seedlings a better chance to succeed. We offer several types of grass seed types and blends to fit your lawn and your lawn conditions. Just ask about this service and we can evaluate your situation to offer the best plan for your lawn.
Fungus Protection / Control
Diseases are caused by microorganisms called fungi occurring naturally in turfgrass. These are found everywhere in diseased and healthy lawns but are not noticed unless damage occurs. Control is best maintained as part of an IPM (integrated pest management) program. The best prevention is through proper cultural practices such as proper mowing, watering, managing of thatch and a fertilizer program.
Top Turf Lawn Care offers a preventative treatment program. Fungicides can be effective in preventing disease. We apply the correct product to create a protective barrier before a fungus can infect a turfgrass plant. This type of program requires close monitoring and typical repeat applications to prove successful. This can prove somewhat expensive, but can be a solution to that troubled lawn suffering from these types of problems.
Treatment after infection takes place is called curative treatment. Unfortunately, these treatments can be difficult and are often unsuccessful. By the time symptoms are seen, infection may be so extensive that often fungicides will do little good. Improved cultural practices can certainly make a difference here with time and persistence.
Lime Application
Lime is applied to the soil to increase the soil pH. Soil pH, a measure of the soil's acidity or alkalinity, can directly influence the vigor and quality of your lawn. When the pH is below 7.0, the soil is said to be acidic; when above 7.0, it is alkaline. For turfgrass in Ohio, a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic) is ideal.
When the soil pH drops below 6.0, your lawn becomes unable to use nutrients necessary for proper growth. As nutrients become less available, the lawn's color, vigor, and ability to resist (or recover from) heat, drought, or traffic stress will be reduced. In Northeast Ohio, many lawns would benefit from a lime application every other year.
Factors that can cause acidic soil conditions are the leaching of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium from the soil and from the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Most of the fertilizers applied to lawns have the potential to cause acidic conditions. The extent of leaching or fertilizer application that will affect soil pH is dependent on several factors including type of nitrogen applied, amount applied, types of other nutrients present in the fertilizer, soil type, and irrigation frequency. Other factors which may act to reduce soil pH are decomposition of soil organic matter and irrigation with acidic water.
Soil Testing
The only way to determine what nutrients may be deficient in soil or whether or not to apply lime (and how much to apply), is through the results of a soil test. This should be conducted at a state or commercial soil testing laboratory. A soil test kit used by the homeowner or at a local garden center to test soil pH, may also indicate the need for liming. However, these simple tests do not always determine how much is needed to correct the condition. The reason is that individual soils can differ greatly in the amount of lime required to raise the pH. The amount of lime needed for a particular soil is designated as the lime requirement from a commercial soil test report. These soil test reports will indicate the lime requirement per 1000 square feet.
If interested in having a soil test completed, Top Turf Lawn Care knows what is required for an accurate soil test. We will collect the sample, package it and deliver to the correct facility for testing. Results are typically received back within 7 - 10 days with a complete print out of results and recommendations for your lawn.
Organic Applications
Many lawns would benefit from at least periodic organic applications. Organic applications work differently than synthetic fertilizers in that much of the nitrogen they offer to turfgrass plants comes from the process that occurs from microbial action. Organic fertilizer will add organic matter to your soil. This organic matter feeds existing microbes in the soil which produce waste in the form of nutrients to be taken up by grass roots. It literally improves the soil’s ability to grow and improve. This nurtures grass plants and helps produce better root development. Organics will add to the physical profile of soil by changing the soil structure. This will be particularly helpful in “newer lawns” (10-15 years or less) where soils tend to be heavy clay content and suffer from severe compaction. It is extremely beneficial when added with the process of aeration as it helps get the organic matter into the soil more efficiently.
We use a natural bio solids product that contains slow release organic nitrogen, phosphorus bound with iron and aluminum, and high organic matter. Here are some advantages of this product;
100% safe for children and pets. Meets stringent health, safety, and environmental criteria. It is non-toxic if eaten in small amounts (though this is obviously not recommended!)
Does not need to be watered in. The organic nutrients are 'stored' in complex organic molecules until soil microbes break down and release them. Synthetic fertilizers need to be watered in to begin working.
Can be applied at any time. Even during summer. They contain no salts which can burn grasses during hot, dry periods.
Does not contain any pesticides or weed killers but will help create a thick turf which will choke out weeds over time. Can be used in conjunction with other lawn care products such as weed or pest controls as part of a complete lawn maintenance program.
Can be used on any plant that grows outdoors, including vegetable gardens, edible crops or landscape plants.
This product can be used as a primary fertilizer source in an organic fertilizer program or as a regular or periodic addition to a typical program to help improve soil structure of your lawn.
