Lawn Care Products
Where once the amateur gardener had to rely upon his knowledge and understanding of the materials available to him to care for his lawn, by comparison, the modern gardener is spoilt for choice in the multitude of products available to him. The choice available is often bewildering and choosing the correct lawn care products for any given task is often rather difficult. Key to getting your decision right is having a greater understanding of the actual component parts of the products in question.
How To Use Products Correctly
To use products correctly you will need to understand that many products have been specifically designed to perform just one particular function, such as spring fertilizers. Although there is a selection of general lawn care products a quick read of the instructions often reveals that that particular product really only covers a rather limited function. This is often the case with such things as "weed and feed" which may only be suitable for the removal of specific weeds.
Chemical lawn weedkillers are available that target broad leaved weeds while not damaging the grass. Some chemical spot weeders are available in aerosol cans making the task a simple case of spraying weeds, especially those which form a basal rosette. Other forms include handy solid waxy sticks or as a roller ball containing a liquid, which are also very easy to use.
The majority of weed killers are available in either concentrated liquid or granular form. The most important thing to remember when using such products is that they should only be applied according to the manufacturers instructions and that they should be applied as evenly as possible. Otherwise you may end up scorching patches of your lawn.
When applying a liquid weed killer you usually need to dilute the product. The best approach is to apply it using a watering can which has been fitted with a dribble bar. If you choose to use a sprayer it is important that you set it to a coarse sprinkle to avoid/reduce the risk of spray drift.
If you prefer using granular lawn care products you need to know that these are applied dry. However if it does not rain after a few days you may need to water the lawn lightly. It is best to use an applicator, which can usually be hired. A wheeled spreader should be used to spread half of the recommended amount running width ways and the other half should be applied running length ways. This way you stand a much greater chance of applying it evenly.
Some lawn care products are available to treat common lawn pests but, again, it is often the case that they contain active ingredients specific to the pest. The nematode Heterorhabditis megadis is used to treat an infestation of Chafer grubs and the nematode Steinerrnema feltiae is used against leatherjackets. While there are some treatments for fungal infections most prove rather ineffective and the best approach is to avoid such problems by ensuring good aeration and drainage.
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