Add bliss to the backyard

By Matt Weafer
Messenger-Inquirer

Comfort exists in many forms. But during early summer in Owensboro, for many families, relaxation lies in the backyard under shade with a cool drink.

So why not revamp the backyard this spring? Convert the grass into lush, verdant life and transform your porch or patio into an outdoor retreat.

Todd West, branch manager of Evergreen, said the first thing a homeowner needs to do to add life back into a weed-choked backyard is the early spring clean-up.

Rake up leaves, sticks and dead weeds. Expose the grass and let the new grass seeds reach the top soil.

A layer of dead leaves will smother out the new seeds, West said.

In the first few weeks of March, West said to put out spring fertilizer with at least 50 percent slow release to continue feeding the yard over the next several weeks.

The next most important step is to put down weed control with pre-emergent for crab grass before April 15.

“Once crab grass starts to grow,” West said, “you can’t go back and control it.” But crab grass won’t germinate until the temperature warms, which is typically mid April.

From that point, basic yard maintenance is all that is required along with weed treatments and fertilizers. Most Evergreen customers treat the lawn with a total of six applications through the summer, four fertilizers and two weed controllers.

But for more pristine grass, such as a golf course, more treatments are necessary. “A golf course typically does eight to 11 applications,” West said.

At the end of fall, extra preparation will help your grass grow back more healthy next spring. Fall aeration, seeding and weed control will set up a beautiful landscape in spring.
For mowing, West said to alternate mowing patterns and never cut the grass more than one third of its length.

The most common mistake is cutting the grass too short, which dries it out and adds stress, he said. Let the grass grow to 4 ½ inches and mow it to three. Then stay on a seven-day mowing schedule.

Mowing the same pattern every time trains the grass and it will lie over. And always mow with a sharp, mulching blade. “Ninety percent of the grass blade is water, so you’re just putting moisture back in the grass,” West said.

John Maurice of Maurice’s Pools and Spas said some of the newest things for pools and spas are lighting and audio. LED lighting inside and on the exterior of the spa, create a unique atmosphere at night.

And with 50 jets and new stereo speakers, a backyard spa experience will be quintessential culmination of summer relaxation.

Colored fiber optic lighting for swimming pools transforms a typical in-ground pool into a work of art.

Another new, popular pool feature is electric pool covers that open and close at the push of a button, protecting the pool and keeping debris from the water.

Kenny Miller, owner of All Decked Out, said the most popular item in decks is composite wood. Comprised of different woods, treated and dyed through the entire piece, these decks are nearly maintenance free.

With a lifetime warranty and several different color options, these customizable decks fit every yard and eliminate the hassle of staining and repainting traditional wood decks.

Linda Boarman co-owner of Bluegrass Natural Stone said a new popular item is a manmade flagstone material that looks natural and can be customized to different sizes.

Also new sealers are available for natural stone to add shine and to protect the stone. For instance if grease drips from an outdoor barbecue, the sealer would protect the porous stones from absorbing the grease and staining.

Natural stone boulders also make beautiful land markers and landscape additions.

At Barns-N-More, owner Carol Herring said a number of different Amish gazebos and storage buildings are available.

Gazebos range in shape and size, but the most popular gazebos are the rectangles which have room for a swing and spa.

Many owners install fans to create a breeze while lounging in their spa on warm summer evenings.

Reprinted with permission from Messenger-Inquirer.