Expert Boulder, Colorado Lawn and Turf Care

The Difference Between Lawn and Turf

There are some key differences between lawn and turf. A lawn is a plot of grass on residential, commercial or industrial land. It is usually tended or mowed. Turf is a surface layer of earth containing dense grass and matted roots. The grass on a lawn grows naturally from the ground. Turf is often formed from sodding. Sod is grass specially cultivated, mowed, and cut into strips or squares. Then, it is attached to 1 to 2 inches of soil beneath the ground, held together by roots. Turf is commonly used on sports fields (i.e. baseball, golf, etc.) and is a valuable aspect of landscaping for aesthetic appeal due to its bright green, lush appearance.

Lawn and Turf Care for Common Native Grasses in Boulder County, Colorado

Below are some of the common native grasses in the Boulder, CO area (like Broomfield, Erie, and Niwot) and tips on how to care for them.

• Buffalo Grass: Buffalo grass has a bluish-green color and slightly curly blades. It is a low-maintenance grass that is tolerant to droughts and cold weather. Because it as a warm season grass, buffalo grass turns brown and becomes dormant during the fall and winter seasons. Its peak growing months are between May and September. For buffalo grass, care is minimal and mowing should be infrequent. You should fertilize it in the spring and once again in June or July. Mow once per week for a healthy lawn. Unfortunately, buffalo grass tends to get weeds often. Remove weeds as you spot them.
• Blue Grama Grass: Blue grama grass requires minimal watering and fertilizing. The best environments for blue grama grass are sunny conditions with dry earth. It starts growing between the months of May and June. Blue grama grass grows slowly, so it requires minimal mowing. You can either mow it to 1 1/2 to 3 inches long for a manicured lawn or allow it to grow to its full height for a more natural lawn. Don't overwater blue grama grass as its prone to rust and fungal rot. Only water in extreme drought or when it has ample time to dry in the coolest part of the day.

Common Weeds in Broomfield, Erie, and Niwot, CO

Whether they're in your garden or your lawn, weeds can rob your landscape of its beauty. You should know what to look for so that you can remove them as needed. Below are some of the most common weeds found in the Boulder, Colorado area.

• Curly Dock: Curly dock has broad leaves, a bushy appearance, and can grow pretty tall. Hand weeding isn't the best way to remove curly dock because it has such a deep and strong taproot. If you remove it this way, you'll leave some roots in the ground and it will grow right back. It's best to use a shovel to dig up the entire weed.
• Kochia: Kochia has grey-green leaves and often has a slight purple color on the underside of its leaves. Luckily, you can remove kochia by hand weeding if you catch it early enough.
• Bindweed: Bindweed has small leaves and often white, round flowers. This is a very difficult weed to kill because it spreads by both seed and root. When removing it by hand pulling, be careful not to leave any roots behind to prevent it from re-sprouting.
• Canada Thistle: Canada thistle has soft green, spear-like leaves. If allowed to grow to flower, the flower is purple and has a pom-pom shape. They form in clusters at the top of the plant. When removing Canada thistle, it's important to wear gloves as the weeds have sharp barbs on them.

Care for the Xeriscape Portion of the Yard

Just because the xeriscape portion of your garden requires little water or fertilizer doesn't mean that you should neglect it outright. It will still need some pruning/mowing, pest control, feeding, weeding, and watering. Below are some tips for xeriscape maintenance.

• Use pruning to stimulate plant growth and trim away dead branches.
• Reapply mulches once a year.
• Use fertilizer once in the spring and once again in the early fall.
• Reduce watering and heavily mulch your xeriscape to discourage weed growth.
• Regularly check your automatic drip irrigation or sprinkler system for any leaks. Readjust the system as new plants establish root systems and require less water.

Our Services

At Outdoor Craftsman, we offer a wide variety of landscape maintenance services including:

• Mowing: Keep your lawn short and looking healthy with our mowing services.
• Trimming: The lawnmower can't get to all the grass on your lawn. But we can.
• Edging: We can make your lawn look finely groomed around the borders.
• Aeration: Our lawn aeration services will help breathe new life into your lawn and enhance grass growth.
• Weed Prevention: We can prevent the growth of weeds and keep these pesky plants from growing on your lawn.
• Fertilization: We'll nourish your lawn and help it maintain its lush, green appearance.
• Plant Protective Treatments: Protect your beautiful plants from harsh weather, weeds, disease, and pests.

We also provide seasonal clean-up in the fall and spring seasons as well as gardening services (in case you have more than just a giant lawn!). Come work with us at Outdoor Craftsmen to achieve the beautiful, lush lawn you deserve with our lawn and turf care services. Feel free to contact us today for more information about our services.