Lawn Care

Why choose Ray Smith & Associates to care for my lawn?

We care for each client and their lawn individually, no ‘one size fits all’ program. It starts with our evaluation of your lawn and its conditions; we then submit a report and our recommendations to you. It continues with our care program to help meet your goals for a lush, green lawn. We use premium products that deliver results. Most of all, we have the expertise, equipment, and people who take great pride in giving you a lawn & landscape to enjoy and be proud of.

Is fertilization important?

The best lawns are on a fertilizer program, we analyze your soil and overall lawn condition to customize your program. Our program incorporates both the finest traditional fertilizers and organic products to provide vital nutrients and build the soil. Fertilizers must be applied evenly and at the proper rate & timing to prevent burning or leaving stripes on the lawn. Our professionals are trained to apply materials carefully and properly.

Do I need weed control?

Weeds compete with desirable lawn grasses for water, space, light and nutrients. They are very aggressive and can take over a lawn if not kept in check. It is when this type of imbalance occurs that many customers request help. We only spot treat the areas of lawn with weeds. Before this happens, a preventive approach to controlling weeds is recommended. It includes preventative applications, regular fertilization, proper mowing and correct watering practices. Weeds can also be controlled through digging or hand pulling. This method is much more labor intensive and is not always effective since many weeds can reproduce through remaining vegetative parts if they are not entirely dug out.

You treated my weeds, why are they still green?

Weed control products take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to work, depending on the material used, climate conditions and the weed itself. Be patient and if you have a concern call us and we will investigate.

Does Ray Smith & Associates follow an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) approach to lawn care?

Yes, we follow the IPM approach. It is contemporary, responsible and ensures a healthy lawn and environment. Ray Smith's approach to lawn & plant health care has always focused on IPM while protecting, preserving, and enhancing our environment. Our program, whether organic or more conventional, is built on evaluating each lawn and building a program based on your goals, its needs and conditions.

What risk do children pets and I face after a control product has been applied?

Please follow any written instructions and remain off a treated lawn until it has dried or, if you wish, as an extra precaution, for 24 hours. The U.S. has the most stringent pesticide regulatory system in the world. The EPA registers all pesticides marketed in the U.S. The safety and effectiveness of each product is thoroughly evaluated by the EPA to ensure products meet strict standards. The NYS DEC also regulates usage. Our professional applicators are highly trained, fully licensed and adhere to all NY and EPA regulations concerning safe pesticide use.

Something looks wrong with my lawn, what should I do?

Each time we visit your lawn we evaluate its conditions and check for any problems. However lawn conditions can literally change on a daily basis, so if you see something of concern between our visits please do not hesitate to call us. We will come out, check your concerns and should we discover any problem, recommend a course of action.

How much water does my lawn need?

Your lawn needs 1 to 2" of water weekly. Mother Nature provides water, but she sometimes needs help. To determine the need for supplemental water, look for these telltale signs of oncoming drought stress: Areas of the lawn, especially near sidewalks and driveways and on slopes, take on a dark, silvery or smoky blue-green haze. In extreme cases the lawn appears yellowish. Footprints or lawnmower wheel marks don't spring back shortly after they are made. Under normal circumstances, early morning is the best time to water your lawn so that the leaves can dry slowly and naturally without too much evaporation, and with most of the water penetrating the soil. Regular deep watering is better than daily light sprinklings. Deep watering and allowing the lawn to dry out some between watering will force the roots to penetrate deeper. Watering odd/even days or every other day, at most, is suggested under usual conditions. Our irrigation division offers a monitoring and system adjustment program to help take the guesswork out of watering.

When should I cut the grass and at what height?

Your lawn should be kept 2.5 to 3 inches high, this allows the grass to produce enough energy for itself and leads to a denser, greener lawn with less weeds. Depending on the weather conditions and time of weason, this may require up to twice weekly cuttings. This allows removal of no more than 1/3 of the total grass blade each mowing. This reduces stress on the plant and keeps the plant in better health and appearance.

Are sharp lawnmower blades important?

A dull mower blade actually rips or tears grass blades. The ragged edges serve as ideal entry points for various diseases. Dull mowing is especially visible in hot weather when the tip of each grass blade dries out and turns brown. Multiply this by several billion and your lawn may end up looking more like a field of straw rather than a lush green carpet.

Should I remove grass clippings?

With the proper mowing program, grass clippings can be left on the lawn after mowing without unsightly clumps. It’s a natural and an environmentally beneficial practice; it reduces waste and conserves landfill space. Clippings left on the lawn quickly decompose and add nutrients back to the soil.

I keep hearing lawns are bad for the environment, is this true?

Turf has many attributes that makes it use in the landscape desirable, these include: *Its deep green carpet-like growth enhances other landscape features. *It imparts a feeling of spaciousness and gives width and depth to landscapes. *No other living groundcover is as durable as turfgrass. *The growing point of turfgrass rests at ground level, allowing it to thicken and recover from foliar damage. Turf also has some significant environmental benefits. *The 8.5 million grass plants in a healthy 10,000 sq. ft. lawn absorb 6,000 gallons of rainwater. *An average golf course of 150 acres can absorb 12 million gallons of water during a 3" rainfall. *Earthworm populations of 200-300 earthworms per sq. yd. are common in turfgrass lawn. They increase the amount of macropore space within the soil, which results in increased soil water infiltration rates and water-retention capacity. *Every 2.5 acres of golf course turf sequester about one ton of carbon from the air per year. *U.S. lawns remove 5% of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. *Grass traps more than 12 million tons of dust and dirt annually. Trapped particles also include allergens such as plant pollen. *A 250 sq. ft. lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four. *Eight average size lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning (1 ton = 12,000 BTU per hour, or 3,517 watts).