By | Categories News | June 15, 2020

Why and When You Should Aerate Your Lawn

If you have dead, patchy areas in your yard, your turf and soil may need aeration treatment. But don’t let these areas stop you from the perfect lawn!

The Aqualon team can help you determine the right treatment plan for your lawn and soil. Our crew of experts are equipped with the proper training to develop the landscape of your dreams.

Aeration might be the best option for you if you are creating a new lawn, getting to know the yard at your new home, or are tired of achieving the landscape you desire.

Aeration treatments prove effective in reviving neglected, over-watered, and over-fertilized lawns. Like humans, yards required a balance of nutrients, too.

What is Aeration?

Aeration is the process of breaking up soil in your lawn, so water and fertilizer permeates into the root zone. Depending on the size of your lawn, this process uses a motorized machine which “pokes holes” in the lawn, breaking up “congested” patches.

Some grassy areas with lots of foot traffic (or car traffic) require more frequent aeration than more out-of-the-way areas.

Why is aeration important?

Aeration clears the way for more beautiful grass to grow in place of the dead layer of grass tissue, which is called lawn thatch.

Lawn thatch is a layer of mainly dead stems, roots, and grass tissue that has not decomposed. A thick layer of thatching can destroy a beautiful lawn if it becomes too thick.

Over-watering, too much fertilizer, and excessive use of pesticides can increase thatching. While thatching is mostly inevitable in many climates, it can leave unsightly spots across your lawn.

Just like humans, lawns and soil require oxygen, water, and nutrition. By creating an ideal environment with lawn-sustaining components, we can make way for a beautiful, fresh looking lawn.

When should you aerate your lawn?

The best time to aerate your lawn is during the growing season, which is generally spring and fall, depending on your grass and climate.

Aerating during this time allows for new grass to fill in those patchy areas and bring you closer to the lawn of your dreams.

Our team can bring your lawn back to life as a luscious, beautiful setting for memories with family and friends. If you have concerns about the appearance of your yard or are ready to start a new landscaping project, please give us a call. Let our team help you make the best and most beautiful decisions for your lawn.


By | Categories News | June 15, 2020

The Importance of Soil Testing and Amendments

Sometimes, lawns need extra help to reach their full potential. This is where testing and soil amendments help you target key areas for additional care.

Although dirt seems ordinary, many different factors determine its viability with certain species of plants. The level of minerals, nutrients, and a mixture of organic materials are complex factors Aqualon considers when planning a landscaping project.

As any home gardener will tell you, it can be frustrating to continually nurture your lawn and plants only to reap less than beautiful results. In many cases, an uncooperative lawn can be due to many reasons, such as the history of care, soil’s pH level, nutrient balance, and the ability to deliver water and air to the crop.

The best way to determine if your lawn lacks the qualities necessary to yield a healthy and appealing crop is to conduct soil testing. These tests help us determine the required next steps to restore health to your lawn and soil.

The two main qualities that make for healthy garden soil are fertility and texture.

  • Fertility is a combination of nutrients and soil pH levels that help the plants absorb these nutrients.
  • Texture refers to the size of the soil particles, cohesiveness, and the soil’s ability to transfer water and air to the plants.

What happens if my lawn is unhealthy?

If the soil test tells us your lawn needs “help,” we will recommend one or more soil amendments to bring your lawn back to life.

What are soil amendments?

Think of soil amendments like supplements or vitamins. They enrich the soil using organic materials. Typically, it’s an on-going process best begun when you first establish your garden, and anytime you are undertaking new planting for the season or year.

Here are some examples of soil amendments the Aqualon team uses:

  • Compost. Garden waste and kitchen scraps are excellent tools for amendment due to the organic material.
  • Composted Manure. You don’t have to worry about off-putting smells. This material is also composted until it turns dark, crumbly, and odorless.
  • Peat Moss. This is a cheap product that works well to loosen the soil.
  • Grass Clippings. Untreated grass and other plant debris are excellent for working back into the soil.
  • Cover Crops. Also known as green manure, these plants are grown on unused soil and are allowed to decompose as they are tilled back into the ground.

Sometimes, lawns and soil need a little extra help to reach their full potential, but we work with our clients to create the landscaping they desire. It’s essential to get a lawn care routine right; otherwise, a hefty bit of time and money could be wasted.

If you have concerns about the health of your lawn and soil, please give us a call. Let our team help you make the best and most beautiful decisions for your lawn.


By | Categories News | June 15, 2020

How to Prevent and Treat Lawn Diseases

Putting a stop to lawn diseases is vital to the overall health of your lawn.

We all want beautiful lawns, where each plant is meticulously pruned, the edges of the turf are razor trimmed, and the color is a lovely bright green! A beautifully designed lawn can make your home look better and increase its value.

Unfortunately, lawns can suffer from disease and harmful conditions, even with the best caretakers. Problems like weeds and lawn diseases can wreak havoc on a beautiful lawn you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Aqualon’s team of experts can help you through these concerns with a developed treatment plan to get rid of lawn diseases and prevent them from returning.

Lawn Diseases

Aside from weeds, lawn diseases can take a toll on a beautiful lawn. There are hundreds of lawn diseases, but the most common are below.

Five of the most common lawn diseases include:

  • Brown Patch – Brown patches are most common in the summer on cool-season grasses. They are large discolored patches that can grow several feet wide and caused by fungus in high temperatures. They look similar to “dead spots,” and you may be inclined to seed the area; if left untreated, the brown patches can kill large areas of grass quickly.
  • Dollar Spot – This disease can kill both warm-season and cool-season grass. This disease looks like white or beige “spots” on the grass blades in circles no more than 6 inches wide throughout the lawn.
  • Rust – As the name suggests, the yellowish discoloration on the grass blades will eventually turn to a rust color and cause the lawns to thin and die out. Warm-season grasses that are moist and low in nitrogen are most susceptible to this disease.
  • Leaf Spot – Most often during the summertime, this disease causes the roots of the grass to rot, leaving dark lesions on grass blades. As the weather warms and becomes drier, the infected areas will eventually die.
  • Fairy Ring – Perhaps the most recognizable, this “fairy ring” is a circular area of mushrooms, usually a few feet wide. This disease kills the grass inside of the ring by preventing water from reaching that portion of the lawn.

Lawn Disease Treatment and Prevention

The first step in treatment is to identify the problem affecting your grass. If you notice patches or sections of your yard with discoloration or spots, contact us immediately. It’s best to treat this problem before the disease spreads to other parts of your lawn.

Proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing will keep your lawn healthy and ward off disease and fungus. In some cases, many homeowners excessively water, seed, and fertilize, which can also damage your lawn.

A combination of treatments like irrigation, aeration, and fertilizing will bring your lawn back to life so you can have the yard you’ve always dreamed of.

If you suspect your turf is experiencing any of these issues, reach out to us. Let our team help you make the best and most beautiful decisions for your lawn.


By | Categories News | June 15, 2020

Aqualon’s Process of Overseeding Your Lawn

If your lawn is looking thin or worn, overseeding may help restore your yard to its original beauty.

Overseeding may sound a lot like something to avoid when tending to your lawn, but Aqualon’s landscaping professionals know overseeding is a part of a comprehensive and proactive approach.

What is overseeding?

Overseeding is the process of spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. As your grass ages, you will notice thinning and worn spots across your lawn. Overseeding allows new grass to grow alongside your original grass.

When homeowners notice their lawn is thinning, they overseed to correct the issue; however, sometimes their plans are more reactive than proactive. Our professional landscape designers overseed to prevent thinning instead of treating it. It’s a necessary process, but if done right, this plan can rejuvenate any worn out lawn.

What’s the process of overseeding?

As previously mentioned, Aqualon can overseed as we correct existing problems or changes in your current landscaping design.

Aqualon’s Process for Overseeding

While we do most of the work, we will lean on our customers to keep an eye out for new issues or concerns and a few small lawn care tasks.

  1. We will discuss your goals and any current issues that concern you about your existing lawn. At this time, we will also talk about how much “traffic” your lawn currently experiences, so you have a space that is ideal for your lifestyle.
  2. We will plan a time to overseed. Because grass types vary, especially in the Midwest, there are specific times of the year when overseeding is best “accepted” by the existing lawn and soil.
  3. We will prepare the area by mowing and removing any thatch and grass clippings so the new seed can contact the soil, as well as receive plenty of sunlight and water.
  4. We will correct the existing problems. If your lawn has troubles beyond regular thinning, our team will conduct a soil test. This helps us determine what corrective measures are necessary before beginning the overseeding process.
  5. We will apply the new seed to your existing lawn. Our team will spread the seed over your lawn when the weather and wind patterns are calm. This way, we can be sure the seed is distributed evenly.
  6. After seeding, we will fertilize the areas that received the new seed to be sure they receive the nutrients they need to produce beautiful fresh grass.

After the overseeding process is complete, your lawn will need consistent moisture and frequent waterings twice per day for the first few days. While we are happy to conduct this service for you, sometimes this is done best by the homeowners. This step is essential as it encourages healthy, deep roots to grow.

Moving forward, the Aqualon team will develop a comprehensive maintenance plan that includes diligent watering, mowing, and continued proactive overseeding.

If you are wondering if overseeding is right for your lawn, please give us a call. Aqualon’s team can keep your lawn looking its best.