Pine Straw vs Mulch: Which Is Better for Your North Carolina Yard?
Pine straw vs mulch comes down to your yard, your budget, and how often you want to refresh your beds. Pine straw costs less, spreads fast, and grips slopes. Shredded hardwood or pine bark mulch lasts longer and gives beds a crisp, finished look. Both materials hold...
Can You Lay Sod in the Winter? What North Carolina Homeowners Should Know
Yes, you can lay sod in the winter in North Carolina, as long as the ground is not frozen. Tall fescue sod handles cool weather well. Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede go down as dormant sod and carry more risk until spring. Dormant sod will not root much until the soil...
Your Fall Lawn Care Schedule for a Thicker North Carolina Yard
A fall lawn care schedule in North Carolina runs from early September through late November, and the order matters more than the effort. Aerate and overseed first, feed the lawn in mid September, keep mowing while the grass is still growing, stay ahead of the leaves,...
How to Get Rid of Moss in Lawn Areas and Keep It From Coming Back
Learning how to get rid of moss in lawn areas starts with a hard truth: the moss is not the problem. Moss shows up where grass has already given up, and it stays until you fix whatever made the grass quit. You can rake it out, burn it off with iron, or scrape it away...
When to Cut New Grass: Tips for North Carolina’s Piedmont Area
Cut new grass when it reaches about 50% above its recommended mowing height and the soil is firm enough to support the mower. For example, mow tall fescue to 3 inches when it reaches approximately 4.5 inches. For new sod, wait until the roots resist gentle lifting and...
Best Privacy Shrubs in the Piedmont: Enhance Your Home’s Appeal
The best privacy shrubs for North Carolina’s Piedmont keep dense foliage at the height you need and fit your yard at maturity. Evergreen options include Schip laurel and taller loropetalum cultivars. Green Giant arborvitae, an evergreen tree, suits larger spaces....
Brown Patch Fungus: Why Your Lawn Turns Tan In Summer
Brown patch fungus is a lawn disease caused by a soil fungus called Rhizoctonia solani. It turns healthy tall fescue into rough circles of tan, straw colored grass in a matter of days. Did your yard look perfect in May and now show scorched looking rings? This is...
Downspout Drainage: Where Your Roof Water Should Really Go
Good downspout drainage moves roof water at least six to ten feet away from your foundation and releases it somewhere the ground can absorb it. If your downspout ends in a splash block two feet from the house, that is the source of most of your yard problems. Roof...
Laying Sod Without Tilling: Why It’s a Bad Idea for Your Lawn
Laying sod without tilling can lead to weak roots when the underlying soil is compacted or poorly drained. New sod needs direct contact with a properly prepared soil surface. For North Carolina lawns, preparation includes removing existing grass, testing the soil,...