Blog

If you are lucky, you live in one of those parts of the world where Nature has one last fling before settling down into winter’s sleep. In those lucky places, as days shorten and temperatures become crisp, the quiet green palette of summer foliage is transformed into the vivid autumn palette of reds, oranges, golds, and browns before the leaves fall off the trees. On special years, the colors are truly breathtaking. Read More

Consider hiring a lawn care company for leaf removal if you have trouble raking leaves in your large yard or do not have the time.

Autumn can be a nice change of pace after a long, hot summer. In many areas of the country, the benefits include cooler, more comfortable weather, apple picking, football and, of course, the leaves changing colors from greens to beautiful reds, oranges and yellows. Read More

Like most things in nature, the soil supporting your lawn (technically called turfgrass) must be in balance. In this case, the balance is a measure of pH or acidity. If your soil is too low on the pH scale, adding lime can help restore the balance and promote a healthier lawn. A quick understanding of the basics of pH, how to test your soil and when and how to apply lime are all you need to get started. Read More

What is aeration?

Lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores out of the lawn. This process is done by using an aerator. At Hometown we have both walk behind mechanical aerators and tow-behind aerators that we attach to lawn tractors. Read More

It is no secret that a landscaped yard can cause envy in the neighborhood, but did you know it can also mean money back in your pocket at the time of sale?

Did you know, in a recent University of Michigan study, landscape updates were shown to boost property values up to 11 percent. That means that if you’re looking to boost your home’s rates on your next evaluation, your best bet may be to head to the backyard. Read More

Every gardener loves to earn the reputation of having a green thumb. However, there are eco-sensitive steps you can take that will make sure you are a green gardener, regardless of how gifted you are at getting the most from your plants. Read More

August is a fabulous month in the vegetable garden for many of us. The summer crops are overwhelming us with their productivity (hopefully!) and the crops we sowed last month are coming along beautifully. But August need not be a time only to harvest the mid-season crops. You can still plant in August. For many northern gardeners, the focus now will be on planting fast-maturing cool-season crops that will mature in a few weeks for fall harvest. Read More

Reasons for Dormancy

Cool-season grasses go dormant to protect themselves during long, hot periods when they do not have enough water to remain in an active growth phase. Warm-season grasses go dormant in cold weather when they die back naturally. In both cases, the grasses’ crowns remain alive, and, in hot situations, water may revive the grasses.  Don’t worry: Dormancy is a natural, built-in protection mechanism, and your grass probably will return when the weather cools in fall. Read More