Winter Survival Tips for Your Lawn: Starting Early Leads to Big Rewards Come Spring

    Daniel Macpeak, Lawn and Shrub Expert and Owner of GoldLeaf Lawn and

Shrub Care, Offers Advice on How to Prepare your Lawn for the Harsh Winter

Ahead.







    CHEVY CHASE, Md., Aug. 19 /EMWNews/ -- Sixty-four percent of

consumers think that their neighbor has the best lawn on the block,

according to a May 2008 poll of homeowners conducted by the Consumer

Reports National Research Center. If you're ready to do something about

that 'lawn envy' by next spring, the time to start planning is now.



    "Some people don't realize that a beautiful landscape in the spring and

summer means a lot of work in the winter and especially fall," says Daniel

Macpeak, owner of GoldLeaf Lawn and Shrub Care. "There are many simple and

cost-effective things property owners can do to bump up their curb appeal,

as long as they plan accordingly."



    Macpeak shares his tips on what you can do this fall to plan for a

healthy landscape:



    -- Plant bulbs between September and mid October. If you want color

around your lawn the moment winter snow melts away for good, you have to

plan ahead. Plant bulbs for tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses

between September and mid October so that they'll be ready for spring.



    -- Aerate and seed your lawn in September or October. Aerating your

lawn is a great way to loosen up compacted soils. Aeration also makes it

easier for water and nutrients to reach the roots of your turf. Macpeak

suggests an aeration and seeding treatment in early fall to help your lawn

grow thicker and healthier - and with less weeds - in the spring.



    -- Don't install shrubs blindly! This goes for every season. Soil has

different nutrient levels in different places of your lawn or yard. There

is no guarantee that because one shrub survived at the edge of your yard,

the same shrub will survive in the middle of your yard. A simple $25 soil

test - implemented by a lawn care specialist like Macpeak - is all you

need, and it might just save you all that time and money otherwise spent on

moving and reinstalling shrubs. The results of a strong soil test should

show a pH level between 6 and 7.5. The test will also show you if nitrogen,

phosphorous and potassium levels are low, medium or high, and then provide

the correct amount to add (or not add) to correct the problem.



    -- Apply Lime to your lawn between September and mid October. If your

soil test shows a poor pH level, Lime is one effective way to improve that

reading. A proper pH level allows nutrients and water to move more freely

through the root zone in your lawn, which will make fertilizer more

effective, and the lawn healthier.



    -- Don't plant any new shrubs after mid October. You want your plants

well established and watered by winter time, or they might not make it to

spring. And remember, annual flowers like mums and pansies must be planted

in the fall in order to bloom in spring.



    -- Fertilize your trees and shrubs in October. Summer stress, followed

a few months later by harsh winter conditions, requires you to refuel your

trees and shrubs with as many nutrients as possible. When calling on a

lawn, shrub and tree specialist, or of you're planning to fertilize your

own lawn, you want to look for fertilizers with specific nutrient

combinations. Use fertilizers with nutrient levels 10-20-20 (these are the

nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium levels) for your lawn, and fertilizers

with levels 20-20-20 for trees and shrubs.



    -- Monitor insects and disease, and treat any problems in November.

Trees and shrubs will be more vulnerable to damage from insects and disease

after the excessive summer heat that D.C. is known for. Arm your greens

with Transfilm, a product used to prevent winter damage by holding in

moisture, for the harsher winter months. It's ideal to treat your shrubs

with Transfilm as close to winter as possible, during early to mid

November.



    -- Don't be afraid to ask for help. One visit with a lawn care expert

like Macpeak can really add to a homeowner's level of education about his

or her lawn and shrubs, and it won't break the bank. An initial visit with

Goldleaf is free and treatments begin at $50 for lawns and $75 for shrubs.



    Daniel Macpeak started Goldleaf Lawn and Shrub Care in 2007 with a

vision to procure the most knowledgeable staff, and provide them with the

best equipment, materials and technology in the market. The result is a

full service lawn, shrub and tree care company that is passionate about

making its clients' greenery thrive. Goldleaf specializes in aeration and

seeding, nutrient management, insect and disease control and wellness

programs for lawns, trees and shrubs. For more information, visit

http://www.goldleaflawncare.com or call Goldleaf Lawn and Shrub Care at

301-718-1010.



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    Daniel Macpeak



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