Maximize outdoor space with the right lawn care

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

For Jon and Adrian Rubey, the father and son duo behind Rubey Lawn Care, taking quality care with outdoor spaces isn?t just part of the family business, it?s a life?s passion. And that is precisely why the Rubey men say they have a few tips of the trade to pass along to the average homeowner.

Now, when most people think of lawn care, their thought patterns likely begin and end with mowing the yard and pulling weeds, but according to Jon and his son, Adrian, mowing and weed eating is often only half of what may be required to take a lawn from looking good to great.

First and foremost, Adrian says, is to properly prep lawn care equipment before using it for the first time every year.

?Have everything serviced,? advises Adrian. ?Get a tune up, sharpen the mower blades and clean the mower deck -all that kind of stuff is important before that first use of the year.?

According to Jon and Adrian, lawn and garden equipment doesn?t necessarily have to be the newest, most expensive item on the market. As long as equipment is taken care of properly and serviced as needed, both men insist any job can be done well. And while checking the oil, and regularly clearing away excess dirt, grime and grass shavings are usually the first on people?s list when it comes to machine maintenance, the father/son duo say tire pressure on lawn mowers is often overlooked. And when that happens, they say, a lawn often suffers the consequences.

?What a lot of people don?t realize is that tires that aren?t at the right pressure, or tires that are at uneven pressures, can actually effect the level of the mower deck, which can end up cutting the grass too low or cut the grass unevenly,? says Jon, who also advises that mowing grass too short will actually make a lawn more prone to weed growth. ?When people say they are having issues with their grass being cut too low or unevenly, even when their deck is set at the right height, we tell them to check their tires.?

Now, when it comes to growing and maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn, the Rubey men have some basic advice that they say many people can easily forget about.

?Light, water and air are key for healthy grass root systems to grow,? insists Jon, saying that the deeper the root system in a lawn, the better. ?Grass can?t grow without those things all working together.?

According to most lawn care experts like the Rubey duo, it?s important to have lawns clear, or mostly clear, of leaves and branches prior to the first snow of the season. Once snow and ice has melted away, it?s important to recheck yards for additional fallen branches and leaves, and clear them away as well to allow light, moisture and air get to a lawn for optimal grass and root system growth.

And contrary to popular belief, fallen tree leaves will not insulate a lawn during winter. In fact, leaves and large branches can actually block the sun?s healthy rays and thin out grass, Jon says.

Another common lawn mishap that Jon and Adrian say they both see a lot of in the lawn care industry are trouble areas of a lawn can often be blamed on one thing - the family dog.

?Pets, especially dogs, can be terrible to lawns,? says Adrian. ?When people say that they can?t seem to get good grass to grow in certain areas of a yard, we usually ask them if the area has good sunlight and air exposure, and then we ask them if their dogs use that area of the lawn often.?

Salts in a dog?s urine can cause recurring brown spots in yards. Experts recommend that mowing grass at a higher deck level will help lessen the effects of a dog?s urine, as does flushing regularly affected areas with water as soon as possible. However, depending on the severity of the damage, additional measures may have to be taken to repair any major grass damage.

And finally, while Jon and Adrian say getting into a lawn care regimen is key to growing and maintaining a strong, beautiful lawn, sticking to the right regimen is most important.

?The number one thing I say is that Mother Nature is the best way to gage how to take care of a lawn,? says Jon. ?Watching temperatures during the day and at night, and weather patterns are key to telling you how and when to do certain things to a yard.?

According to Jon, when to fertilize, plant grass seed and mow is largely determined by weather patterns. And while many believe individual months indicate when certain aspects of lawn care should be performed, Jon says current weather conditions should always be considered, not just the current month.

Additionally, Adrian and Jon both insist that overall, getting a lawn in tip top shape is not something that can be done overnight. Both men agree that lawns can take anywhere from two to three years of consistent, proper care before they reach their full potential.

?Find a routine that works best with where you live and the kind of weather you get, and stick with it,? says Jon. ?The people that have the nicest yards work at it regularly.?

Adrian adds that asking questions and researching the best lawn care and maintenance ideas for individual yards are important - especially if homeowners are beginning a lawn care process for the first time, or if they are growing grass in a specific area for the first time. For best results on growing grass, weed eating, mowing and so on, both Jon and Adrian recommend speaking with a lawn care expert and following health and safety regulations for all lawn equipment and lawn care products.

?We can always come out and look at someone?s lawn,? says Adrian simply. ?And if there are things we can help you with, we will.?

For more lawn care advice or to consult with Rubey Lawn Care about a lawn care issue, email them at rubeylawncare@gmail.com or call 319-385-8918.