In our gorgeous hometown of St. Louis, we often see homeowners grappling with unique challenges to maintain healthy lawns. From the region’s one-of-a-kind climate to its soil composition and rainfall patterns, it’s essential to have local lawn care expertise to address these hurdles effectively.
The specialized expertise can’t be found at just any lawn care company. Often franchisees of big chain companies run the same playbook throughout the country, which leaves St. Louis homeowners wondering why their lawns are struggling despite their best efforts. Here is what a local company like Pure Lawn knows that national chains do not:
The St. Louis Climate
St. Louis’ climate significantly impacts lawn health, as lawns require consistent water levels. Extreme temperature swings from dry conditions to heavy rainfall can wreak havoc on a lawn’s health.
Local lawn care companies like Pure Lawn can provide region-specific care and guidance to help manage these challenges.
Big Temperature Swings
Extreme temperatures in summer and winter affect lawn disease activity, irrigation requirements, and the success of different grass species. For instance, cool-season grasses thrive in St. Louis’ cool springs. However, when the mercury starts rising and temperatures reach the 80s and 90s during the day and 70 at night, lawn disease activity is likely to increase, particularly. As a result, homeowners who haven’t installed and correctly calibrated an irrigation system by April will struggle to maintain their lawns, especially after dry springs like the one we’ve had this year.
We tackle these problems the way no national chain can: with region-specific guidance. Our expert advice takes into account the huge variability of St. Louis temperatures throughout the year. This means you can confidently pick the right grass varieties and watering schedules that cater to the specific needs of St. Louis lawns brought on by our wild climate.
Humidity
St. Louis’ high humidity levels leave lawns at risk of diseases and pests. However, with the right advice, you can mitigate these risks with proper grass selection. Fescues do well here as they are more resistant to humidity-related diseases. But no grass type is foolproof.
Big box stores often sell low-end seeds that are more susceptible to diseases, so it’s crucial to invest in quality turf. If you’re stuck with low-end seeds for this season, you need the best advice around on how to work with what you have and set yourself up for a solution with the introduction of better grass varieties in the fall, when we handle aeration and overseeding. This attention to detail is what sets local lawn care companies apart from national chains. Cookie-cutter solutions that come from profit-driven priorities set elsewhere do not work in St. Louis.
St. Louis Geography and Soil Composition
Unique soil types found in the St. Louis region create challenges, such as clay-rich soil that can dry out and become hard to rehydrate. We educate our homeowners to improve soil structure through routine watering schedules and adjusting fertilizer rates.
Clay Soil Composition
The biggest soil issue in St. Louis is that it’s clay-based. It is downright hard to rehydrate and maintain consistent moisture levels. In some new neighborhoods, homeowners are trying to grow grass on soil dug out for their basements. Clay soils like that will dry out, becoming brick-like. Once the lawn reaches this state, homeowners will struggle to get moisture back in, as the soil seals itself up and water simply sheds right off it.
By taking the time to evaluate each lawn, we develop a routine watering schedule that fits your needs and adjust fertilizer rates to ensure that the soil maintains consistent moisture levels. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when dealing with clay soils.
Local Topography
Sloping causes drainage issues that change plans for watering. If water drains too quickly from your lawn, it will leave your grass parched. On the other end, poor drainage and low points can lead to waterlogged areas where grass struggles to grow. These challenges necessitate tailored solutions that take the unique features of a lawn into account.
At Pure Lawn, we possess a deep understanding of the St. Louis landscape and can recommend appropriate drainage solutions, grading adjustments, and other measures to ensure your lawn thrives.
Rainfall Patterns in St. Louis
St. Louis’ rainfall patterns affect lawn care, with periods of heavy rainfall and potential flooding followed by drought-like conditions during summer months. And sometimes, we even get dry springs, like we’ve had this year, that require pivoting lawn care plans early to ensure summer success.
The Problems of Heavy Bursts of Rain
Heavy rainfall can wash out pre-emergent crabgrass treatments if the clay-rich soil has cracked during a dry spring. This mean that your lawn cracks are an anchor point for crabgrass. July is often the wettest month in St. Louis, with the area often experiencing “gullywashers,” where storms linger and dump an inch and a half of rain, washing out pre-emergents. Only through catching problems like this early and making a plan can we keep the weeds at bay later in the season.
Drought-like Conditions
On the other end of the extremes, St. Louis often gets drought-like conditions in the late summer that can cause turf discoloration and mowing stress. During dry summers, cool-season turfs often go dormant, and their metabolism shuts down. This dormancy can lead to mowing stress, where tire tracks from lawn mowers leave yellow stress marks on the grass.
In addition to tailored watering strategies, we can suggest drought-tolerant grass species and other adaptations that help your lawn withstand dry spells. Our expertise ensures that your lawn does as well as it can during periods of low rainfall.
Watering Schedules Fit for St. Louis
An effective watering strategy takes into account factors like grass variety, terrain, and susceptibility to diseases or insects. Our base level is to recommend 30-40 minutes of watering per area of coverage a minimum of 4 days a week. Ideally, watering should have started in early April. We then adjust this plan based on the unique factors of your lawn such as slopes and low spots.
Why You Should Choose Local Lawn Care Over National Chains
We deeply understand St. Louis-specific issues and offer adaptable solutions, unlike national chains that provide a “one-size-fits-all” approach. The importance of adaptability cannot be overstated. Our customized treatment plans cater to the specific needs of St. Louis lawns, ensuring better outcomes than generic solutions offered by national chains.
Choosing local not only supports native plant species and region-specific lawn care techniques, but it also benefits the St. Louis economy. By opting for a local provider, you’re not only investing in the health of your lawn but also contributing to the well-being of your community.
Give Us a Call Today
St. Louis lawns face unique challenges that demand tailored, local lawn care solutions. By choosing local, you get the best results and the best value. What more could you want?
