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For better or for worse, the first thing we see when looking at a home is its lawn. Before we even get to step inside and admire the interior, our first impression forms right as we walk up to the front door. In order to keep your property looking its best, regular lawn fertilization is a necessity.

How Does a Well-Maintained Lawn Affect Your Home’s Curb Appeal?

For a relatively insignificant cost, proper and professional care of your lawn will bring you high returns. A beautiful home exterior tells potential buyers, neighbors, and passersby that your home’s interior is equally appealing. For potential buyers, a well-maintained lawn means fewer initial costs coming out of their pocket, which drives up the desirability of your home. An attractive lawn even benefits your neighborhood as a whole and increases its marketability. Trust us, your neighbors will be thanking you.

How Do I Take Care Of My Lawn?

The key to maintaining a lush, green lawn is regular fertilization. Most existing nutrients in lawns are water-soluble and will be diluted and washed away over time. Sometimes, soil might not naturally produce the necessary nutrients for a healthy, full, and even lawn. This increases its vulnerability to stressors such as extreme weather, disease, weeds, and pests. Your lawn can be left with uneven discoloration, browning grass, and overall patchiness. This is no way to make a first impression!

When Should I Fertilize My Yard?

If you live in the areas of Essex, Morris, and Union Counties in New Jersey, chances are that your lawn has cool-season grass. This type of grass typically remains green all year round and grows throughout the year, except during mid- and late-winter. Fertilization is recommended twice a year, once in early spring and a second time during the fall, around October and November.

Why Is Lawn Fertilization Tricky to do on Your Own?

Although there are online resources on DIY lawn fertilization, this is a job that should be left for professionals. According to research from the Division of Agriculture in the Department of Arkansas, there are many factors to consider in turfgrass maintenance. Firstly, you must have your soil’s pH level tested and the soil type identified. The pH levels contribute directly to grass health and nutrient uptake, and can indicate a mineral deficiency. Improper pH levels result in ineffective use of fertilizer, as well as increased pest problems.

It is crucial to have your unique landscape evaluated by certified professionals before anything is applied to your lawn. On top of that, you must accurately calibrate the spread of your fertilizer based on a careful measurement of your lawn. Application of nitrogen requires precise timing and vary by turf species.

All in all, a healthy and proper lawn fertilization is no easy task. We strongly advise leaving this in the hands of experts and professionals. If you want to keep your valuable property in its best shape, the team at Giovine Landscaping Inc. can help. We provide unparalleled service and pride ourselves in our precision and professionalism!

Fire pits have increased in popularity all over the country. A 2016 survey performed by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) ranked fire pits as the number one outdoor design element requested by consumers. But fire pits are not just another trend cruising on by with no intrinsic value. Having a fire pit in your yard actually brings you several benefits, which makes it a worthwhile, pretty affordable (depending on the kind of fire pit you choose, of course) investment. Below are five real, tangible benefits of having a fire pit aside from just, “it’s cool.” (Which it is!)

Keeps mosquitos away.

Say what? An outdoor activity that DOESN’T include getting devoured by mosquitos? It turns out that mosquitoes don’t like smoke, and if you plant a few bug-repelling plants or light some citronella candles around your fire, you’re even more protected.

A bigger barbecue.

You can literally cook any type of food on a fire pit, and your cooking area is bigger than on a barbecue. Just place a grill on top and get those steaks sizzling. Burgers and hot dogs are a given, but you can use a frying pan and make eggs, pancakes, and grilled cheese, too. For a real family tradition, whip up some Rocky Mountain Toast (cut a hole in a slice of bread, crack an egg into it, and fry it on the skillet. Tastes delicious with some campfire smokeyness to it!). Experiment with different kinds of wood to infuse different flavors into your food.

Family quality time.

I’ll amend that–family quality time away from the TV. For thousands of years, humankind has gathered around the fire to socialize, tell stories, and connect. It’s hard these days to entice the kids-and adults!–away from the ever-beckoning television, especially in the era of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. But it’s in our blood to enjoy sitting around the fire, so light up your fire pit and gather your family together for some cozy, quality time making memories that will last forever.

Reduces blood pressure.

Wait. Seriously? Yes! A University of Alabama study done by Christopher Dana Lynn showed that just 15 minutes sitting in front of the fire caused both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of participants to go down by several points. According to Lynn, evolution may be the reason we relax when listening to a crackling fire. Being able to destress and clear your head actually helped with survival in the days of the cavemen, and that’s pretty much still true today. Stress is a killer, literally.

Increases home value.

With the former four benefits, of course it increases your home’s value. Fire pits are in demand and they extend the living space of your house, which makes your overall property more desirable.

At Giovine Landscaping, we are happy to build the fire pit of your dreams! We have been providing year-round landscaping services to families and businesses for over 30 years.  

We work closely with our clients to get to know their family, their needs, and their outdoor space, and we make sure all our clients end up with a final product they love!