• Marathon Lawn Care
• 800 E Blackshear Ave
• Waycross, GA 31505 (Ware County)
• (954) 282-9896 voice/text

Residential & Commercial Lawn Care

marathonlawnservice.com

My service will come in and mow your yard, trim the edges, and blow your sidewalk, driveway, and street clear of debris. I do some other services as well. Click on the “Link to the store” to see the other services.

You can set the service to one time only or weekly, every 2 or 3 weeks, or monthly. No yard is too small or too big.

Payment: Unless it’s a big job and not standard services, payment is made upfront on the website. You will receive an invoice. Once paid I will be there within 48 hrs usually the next day unless bad weather. Then it will fall on the next acceptable good day. Bad days for landscaping are; if it is under 60F or it’s raining with the exception of snow or ice and you hired me to clear the sidewalk and driveway and put down salt.

Blogs below

1. How to Grow A Grass Lawn Without Weeds
2. Best Grass Types for Georgia Lawns
3. Will Pine Tree Needles Damage My Lawn?

How my company works. We set up a one-time mow or a schedule. I send out an invoice to your email. Once paid, I will come and complete your service within 48hrs depending on weather like rain, snow, or the temperature below 60F. There are no contracts and no billing.

How To Grow A Grass Lawn Without Weeds

 

Growing a lawn without weeds is a dream for many homeowners. While it’s probably unrealistic to have a lawn 100% free of weeds, you can aim to grow a thick, healthy stand of grass. That’s actually the easiest way to give weeds the brushoff: grow turf that’s so thick and strong that weeds can’t find an inch to take root. Follow this checklist to grow your healthiest grass ever.

Grow the Right Grass

Different grasses grow in different areas of the country. Warm-season grasses are usually grown in warmer, more southerly regions. Types include Bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass. Cool-season grasses are typically grown in cooler, more northerly regions. Types include Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Ryegrass. Check with your local Cooperative Extension System office to learn which types of grass grow best in your area.

Mow Properly

Start by cutting grass with a sharp mower blade that cuts grass cleanly, without tearing or shredding. Proper mowing height depends on grass type. Vary your mowing pattern to avoid creating ruts in the lawn. Avoid mowing when soil is wet, or you risk tearing up grass and soil.

Water Correctly

Provide adequate moisture to grass, especially during episodes of drought or high temperatures. Provide deep, infrequent irrigation, which promotes healthy, deeper roots. Learn about lawn irrigation basics and how much grass actually needs.

Fertilize

Before you start a fertilizer program, do a soil test so you know you’re applying the correct blend of nutrients. In some parts of the country, soils may be acidic or alkaline and require additions of iron, magnesium or lime. Also, different types of grass need to be fertilized at different times of the year. Check with your local Cooperative Extension System office for help developing the right fertilizer program for your lawn.

Scout for Problems

Like any landscape planting, lawns can suffer from a variety of problems. Weeds, bare spots, insects and diseases can weaken and, if left untreated, even destroy a healthy lawn. Keep an eye out for problems in your lawn.

• Deal with weeds when you first see them, because one weed leads to many more. Learn about the types of lawn weed killers and when to use each. Discover why fall weed control is key and how to do it successfully.
• When a bare spot appears, figure out the cause and deal with it. Open soil extends an invitation to weeds, so repair bare spots as quickly as possible.
• Scout for insect problems. Some of the signs to look for are skunks digging up lawn or flocks of birds feeding on turf. White Grubs are a common lawn pest. Discover the basics of dealing with Grubs.

Aerate and Dethatch

Compacted soils don’t allow air and water to reach grass roots, which results in unhealthy grass.

Aerating helps relieve soil compaction.

When thatch builds up in a lawn, it can prevent water and fertilizer from reaching soil and provide refuge for insects.

Best Grass Types for Georgia Lawns

August 23rd, 2017 by 

Katherine Norton

Luckily for Georgia homeowners, peaches aren’t the only plant that grows well in the sweltering summers and mild winters of the Southern state: Georgia’s climate is perfect for keeping a lush, healthy lawn throughout the year.

The key is planting the correct grass for the climate and sun exposure your lawn receives. By choosing a grass suited to these conditions, you’ll avoid problems down the line.

Cool Season vs. Warm Season Grasses

For the most part, turf grasses are classified as either cool-season or warm-season grasses, and where you live determines your lawn type. On the map, the region colored in blue suits cool-season grasses, orange suits warm-season grasses, and the green states in between perform best with a mix of both.

With average temperatures ranging from the low 30s in winter and mid-90s in summer, the Atlanta area lies on the edge of the transitional zone, meaning both warm and cool season grasses are used. Warm-season varieties are most common, however, as they are more resistant to drought and heat.

 

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Warm season grasses:

• Should be planted from late spring through early summer
• Grow during the summer and go dormant during winter
• Are drought tolerant
• Tend to have thicker, coarser blades
• Are generally mowed at a shorter height

Cool season grasses:

• Should be planted from late summer through early fall
• Grow throughout the spring and fall and go dormant in the summer
• Are cold tolerant
• Tend to have longer, thinner blades
• Are generally mowed at a taller height

In north and middle Georgia, cool season grasses can be used to overseed a warm season lawn, which helps maintain an attractive lawn through the colder months. For the sake of uniformity, however, cool season grasses should only be mixed with fine- to medium-textured warm season grasses.

Common Types of Lawn Grass in Georgia

	A dark green, dense grass with fine to medium blades, Bermuda is the most popular warm season turf grass among Georgia homeowners. Bermuda grass holds up well to heavy foot traffic, making it ideal for families with young children and pets.Type: Warm season grassSun Exposure: Full sun to very light shade
	Centipede is a medium textured, low maintenance grass. Because it grows slowly, Centipede grass requires less frequent mowing than other grasses, though it likewise takes longer to mature and fill in a yard after seeding. With a poor tolerance for foot traffic, it will show wear in places that receive heavy use.Type: Warm season grassSun Exposure: Full sun to very light shade
	Zoysia is available in several varieties, with textures ranging from fine to coarse. Generally a dense, slow-growing grass, Zoysia requires periodic dethatching to look its best, but does not need to be mowed as often as other warm season grasses. It’s tolerant of foot traffic as well as high salt levels, meaning it can be planted on the coast.Type: Warm season grassSun Exposure: Full sun to very light shade
	A coarse, broad-leafed grass, St. Augustine has a lower cold tolerance than other warm season grasses and is not often found as far north as Atlanta. It performs best in moist soil, making it ideal for areas along the South Georgia coast, and fares well in lawns that receive partial shade.Type: Warm season grassSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
	Finely textured and fast-growing, Tall Fescue matures quickly after seeding and requires frequent mowing. As a cool season grass, Tall Fescue requires more water during the summer than warm season grasses, or it will go dormant. Resilient in drought and fluctuating temperatures, it also tolerates shade better than most grasses.Type: Cool season grassSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Light Levels for a Healthy Lawn

All grasses need sunlight to thrive, but some tolerate shade better than others. Before you plant, determine the light level of your yard:

• Full sun: Eight hours of unfiltered sunlight per day
• Very light shade: Six hours of unfiltered sunlight per day
• Light shade: Six hours of sunlight filtered through sparse, scattered foliage
• Partial shade: Four hours of direct sunlight or eight hours of sunlight filtered through sparse, scattered foliage
• Shade: Three hours of direct sunlight or all-day sunlight filtered through moderate foliage
• Dense shade: No direct sunlight reaches the ground

The best grass for shade depends on location. In north and middle Georgia, tall fescue is the best grass for partially shaded lawns. For a lawn in south Georgia or along the coast, St. Augustine is also resilient in partial shade.

Of course, no grass grows well in shade or dense shade. Plant turf grass in the sunniest parts of your yard, and landscape with mulch or pine straw around trees and shrubbery.

Georgia Lawn Care

No matter where you live, basic lawn care comes down to three elements: mowing, watering, and feeding. As simple as it sounds, there’s a right and wrong way to approach all three.

Mowing

Mowing height depends on grass type, and mowing at the correct height is just as important for a healthy lawn as fertilizing. Refer to the recommended mowing height for lawn grasses in Georgia, and keep your blade sharp; a dull blade shreds grass rather than cutting it, causing the tops of the grass to turn brown.

Watering

Grass needs about one inch of water per week to thrive. Water your lawn in the morning once a week so it has a chance to dry between soakings. Because a sodden root system increases the possibility of disease, avoid overwatering or watering at night when the soil dries more slowly, and always check the soil before watering. If it’s already damp, there’s no need to irrigate.

Feeding

Ideal nutrient levels vary slightly between grass types, but in general, using any plant food product at the right time of year is all that’s necessary to keep a fertile lawn. Bermuda, centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine should be fertilized in April and June. Unlike the warm season grasses, tall fescue should be fertilized once in September and again in November.

 

Will Pine Tree Needles Damage My Lawn?

Pine trees can be an excellent addition and asset to your lawn. Of course, they can really add value to your landscape with their evergreen appearance, tall and effective fencing features, and even seasonal appeal, but they’re also relatively easy to grow and take care of.

Whether you’re planning to start from scratch with a brand-new landscape or just trying to improve your current one, a pine tree could be exactly the addition you’re looking for. However, just keep in mind that while pine trees add value to your yard in more ways than one, they can produce some unwanted results too.

Perhaps the most common issue people encounter with pine trees is the pine tree needles falling off. It might sound like just an aesthetic issue, but actually, those needles can often damage patches of grass and slow grass growth or stop it altogether. Your grass needs all its nutrients to continue growing, and pine tree needles could actually disallow the grass from getting what it needs.

At Mr. Tree Services, we love helping landowners and future landowners recognize which types of trees are best for their yards. We provide many services in the Portland, Oregon, area, for both residential and commercial properties, and when we’re not out on a job, we like to show people how they can best maintain their lawns.

Because of that, we’ve put together this article outlining the impact that pine tree needles have on your lawn, including tips for how to remove them and even how you can use them to your advantage.

Do pine tree needles damage your lawn?

If you’re looking for the short answer to whether pine tree needles damage your lawn, the answer is yes. When you have a pine tree, you’re going to need to know how pine needles work and how they could potentially fall off their branches and start damaging your otherwise healthy grass. So make sure you take the time to read through why it hurts your lawn and what you can do to prepare for it.

Pine trees aren’t actually bad to have around. There are even positive aspects of having pine tree needles nearby. So don’t go choosing whether you want a pine tree or not based on this negative impact alone. Let’s dive headfirst into what you can do to make sure your pine tree is serving its unique purpose while also not damaging your lawn too much.

Why do they damage your lawn?

Your lawn needs water, sunlight, and air to grow. Pine tree needles will inevitably fall off their branches, and when they do, they’ll drop to the ground and begin their slow decomposition process.

Since there will likely be multiple pine tree needles falling at a time, they can gather on top of the same patch of grass, blocking the required elements of sunlight and air from getting to the grass. While deciduous leaves also block light from getting to the grass, pine tree needles take their destruction a step further by turning the soil beneath the grass acidic, harming it from the inside.

But what do I do? The pine tree needles have already fallen!

Don’t worry about it. It’s possible that your grass may have already been affected, but from here on out, you can make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’s also possible your grass isn’t permanently damaged, so just head outside and get to pine needle removal. Some lawn mowers do a pretty great job of removing them, but some won’t pick them up at all. It just depends on what kind you have. Test out your lawnmower first, and then with the needles that are left, you’ll want to break out the rake and get raking.

To go even one step further, head outside during the daytime. Look beyond your pine tree to see if its branches are blocking the affected grass patch from getting sun. If the patch isn’t getting enough sunlight throughout the day, you may want to consider pruning (or cutting) your pine tree branches to make sure it’s allowing a clearer path for the sunlight in order for the grass to grow.

Use pine tree needles to your advantage.

It might feel like pine tree needles are a sort of nemesis to your grass at this point, but you actually don’t have to feel that way. Pine tree needles are starting to become a bit of a hot commodity for gardeners. People often use them to purposely remove grass or weeds from a specific area.

Instead of grabbing the pine tree needles off your lawn and just throwing them in the trash, take a look around your yard. Are there any places where you don’t want the grass to continue growing? Are there pesky spots that always seem to sprout weeds whenever you least want them to? Grab those pine needles and drop them on top. It really is an efficient and natural way to get your lawn looking the way you want it to.

Closing words.

There you have it. If you’re worried about the growth of your lawn surrounding your pine tree, you might want to head out there and remove them from the ground when you can.

But perhaps the best way to make sure your lawn is in a good position to continue growing and looking the way you want it to is to contact your local tree service professional, such as Mr. Tree.

From residential to commercial and even industrial services, we’re always excited to do a great job helping people with their yards.